Steve Jay | |
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Born |
Eugene Stephen Jay January 26, 1951 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Eugene Stephen Jay Stephen Jay Eugene Steven Jay Eugene Steve Jay Eugen Stephen Jay Eugen Steven Jay Eugen Steve Jay |
Occupation | Guitarist, bassist |
Years active | ?-present |
Eugene Stephen "Steve" Jay (born January 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and bassist, best known for working with "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Jay was born Eugene Stephen Jay in Detroit, Michigan on January 26, 1951. He auditioned for "Weird Al" Yankovic after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since. Jay can be heard or seen on all of Yankovic's albums, videos, and concerts.
He is also the founder of the ethno-funk duo Ak & Zuie, with Pete Gallagher. He has scored more than fifty nationally broadcast PBS specials and series episodes, including three George Foster Peabody Award winners, and contributed to several feature films. He has also done extensive session work, released eight solo records on his own Ayarou label, and produced two albums for the WEA Nonesuch Explorer series.
Jay's background includes a BA and MM Graduate Fellowship in composition from the University of South Florida in 1972. After completing his studies, he went to Niger and spent two and half years studying drumming. Selections from his archival field recordings of traditional West African ceremonies, dances, and solo performances were made into three albums released by Warner/Nonesuch.