Steve Jay

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Jay was born Eugene Stephen Jay in Detroit, Michigan on January 26, 1951. He auditioned for "Weird Al" Yankovic in 1981 after answering an ad in the newspaper, and the two have worked together ever since.{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Andrew |date=2024-09-05 |title=An Interview with Steve Jay of the Weird Al Yankovic Band |url=https://www.classicrockhistory.com/an-interview-with-steve-jay-of-the-weird-al-yankovic-band/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=ClassicRockHistory.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=jon@notehead.com |date=2014-05-05 |title=Stephen Jay |url=https://forbassplayersonly.com/interview-stephen-jay/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=For Bass Players Only |language=en-US}} 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.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} Selections from his archival field recordings of traditional West African ceremonies, dances, and solo performances were made into three albums released by Warner/Nonesuch.

• Ghana: Ancient Ceremonies, Songs, and Dance Music
• Dances of the World
• West Africa: Drum, Chant, and Instrumental MusicOriginally released in 1976 as Africa: Drum, Chant & Instrumental Music; see [http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/west-africa-drum-chant-instrumental-music West Africa: Drum, Chant & Instrumental Music]

• "Weird Al" Yankovic
• "Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D
• Dare to Be Stupid
• Polka Party!
• Even Worse
• UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff
• Off the Deep End
• Alapalooza
• Bad Hair Day
• Running with Scissors
• Poodle Hat
• Straight Outta Lynwood
• Alpocalypse
• Mandatory Fun

• Sea Never Dry – 1997
• Film Music – 1998 – a collection of 66 short excerpts from his original film and television scores
• Tangled Strings – 1999Prior to Tangled Strings, a cassette-only release titled Whatever It Is was made available, containing many of the same songs which were later released on Tangled Strings. When Tangled Strings was released, Whatever It Is was retired.
• Self Avoiding Random Walk – 2000
• Outer Voice – 2004
• Rounder Gaze – 2004
• Friction – 2004
• Plus – 2004
• Physical Answer – 2008
• Chaos, Clouds and Tongue – 2011
• Things Change – 2013
• El Natural 7 – 2016
• Spontaneous Symmetry – 2016
• When One Remains – 2016
• So Do I Sadie – 2018
• Vita Beata – 2022

• Non-Franciscan Duets

• Deep Forest
• Late in the 20th Century: An Elektra / Nonesuch New Music Sampler

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.stephenjay.com/}}
• [http://www.globalbass.com/archives/dec2001/stephen_jay.htm Uncharted Territory] from Global Bass Magazine, December 2001
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310164324/http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?sectioncode=49&storycode=8540 Stephen Jay, Bass Player for Weird Al Yankovic, On Playing Live Through Mackie SR1530s] from Bass Player Magazine, May 11, 2005

{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}

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Category:1951 births

Category:American bass guitarists

Category:Guitarists from Detroit

Category:Living people

Category:University of South Florida alumni

Category:"Weird Al" Yankovic

Category:20th-century American guitarists

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