Abner Jay
Encyclopedia
Abner Jay was an American multi-instrumentalist, who is best known for performing eccentric, blues infused folk music, as a one man band. His idiosyncratic lyrics and style can also be considered within the realm of outsider music
.
. His father and grandfather were both slaves in Washington County, Georgia
. His grandfather was also a banjo player and imparted a vast repertoire of old-time and folk songs to Abner. He started playing in medicine shows when he was 5. In 1932 he joined the Silas Green from New Orleans
Minstrel Show
and would later go on to lead the WMAZ Minstrels on Macon radio from 1946–56, before going solo. He spent many years travelling the American South and playing concerts from his “converted mobile home that opened up into a portable stage, complete with amplification and home furnishings”. These concerts, as evidenced in his recordings, were often equal parts spoken word (jokes, philosophical asides, rants) and music. Common instruments on his recordings include harmonica
, drum kit, a six-string banjo
(that Jay claimed was made in 1748), and the “bones”, which were chicken and cow bones that had been bleached in the sun and used to create percussion. Jay’s song repertoire included field songs, Pentecostal hymns and minstrel
tunes. He once described himself as the “last working Southern black minstrel
”. He also performed original material that was mostly secular, and subjects ranged from politics, relationships, war, the bible and depression. In later years he held a residency, playing shows and selling his LP
s and cassette tapes at Tom Flynn's Plantation Restaurant in Stone Mountain, Georgia
. Anthony Braxton
, renowned American composer and philosopher, called Jay an "American Master".
For many years, Jay released his music and monologues through his own record label, Brandie Records (so-named for his daughter). In 2003 Subliminal Sounds from Sweden released a compilation of his work, which had been out of print since the 1970s, drawing from three of Jay’s best recordings. In 2009 Portland
-based label Mississippi Records released another compilation of his work, this time on vinyl. These re-releases helped garner a degree of renewed interest in the artist, including Vice Magazine naming it album of the month (Vol. 10 #11). Recordings Jay made three months prior to his death are currently being prepared for release by Mississippi Records.
1. Woke Up This Morning
2. Bring It When You Come
3. Cocaine Blues
4. I'm So Depressed
5. Vietnam
6. V. D.
7. I'm a hard working man
8. Wee Wee
9. I wanna job
10. Don't Mess with Me Baby
11. Royal Palm
12. Cocaine
13. Swaunee
Outsider music
Outsider music, a term coined by Irwin Chusid in the mid-1990s, are songs and compositions by musicians who are not part of the commercial music industry who write songs that ignore standard musical or lyrical conventions, either because they have no formal training or because they disagree with...
.
History
Jay was born in Fitzgerald, GeorgiaFitzgerald, Georgia
Fitzgerald is a city in Ben Hill in the U.S. state of Georgia, and is the county seat of Ben Hill County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,053...
. His father and grandfather were both slaves in Washington County, Georgia
Washington County, Georgia
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on February 25, 1784. As of 2000, the population was 21,176. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,937. The county seat is Sandersville....
. His grandfather was also a banjo player and imparted a vast repertoire of old-time and folk songs to Abner. He started playing in medicine shows when he was 5. In 1932 he joined the Silas Green from New Orleans
Silas Green from New Orleans
Silas Green from New Orleans was an African American owned and run variety tent show, which in various forms toured the southern states between about 1904 and 1957....
Minstrel Show
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
and would later go on to lead the WMAZ Minstrels on Macon radio from 1946–56, before going solo. He spent many years travelling the American South and playing concerts from his “converted mobile home that opened up into a portable stage, complete with amplification and home furnishings”. These concerts, as evidenced in his recordings, were often equal parts spoken word (jokes, philosophical asides, rants) and music. Common instruments on his recordings include harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, drum kit, a six-string banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
(that Jay claimed was made in 1748), and the “bones”, which were chicken and cow bones that had been bleached in the sun and used to create percussion. Jay’s song repertoire included field songs, Pentecostal hymns and minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
tunes. He once described himself as the “last working Southern black minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
”. He also performed original material that was mostly secular, and subjects ranged from politics, relationships, war, the bible and depression. In later years he held a residency, playing shows and selling his LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s and cassette tapes at Tom Flynn's Plantation Restaurant in Stone Mountain, Georgia
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Stone Mountain is a city in eastern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,802 at the 2010 census. It is an outer suburb of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.-Geography:...
. Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
, renowned American composer and philosopher, called Jay an "American Master".
For many years, Jay released his music and monologues through his own record label, Brandie Records (so-named for his daughter). In 2003 Subliminal Sounds from Sweden released a compilation of his work, which had been out of print since the 1970s, drawing from three of Jay’s best recordings. In 2009 Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
-based label Mississippi Records released another compilation of his work, this time on vinyl. These re-releases helped garner a degree of renewed interest in the artist, including Vice Magazine naming it album of the month (Vol. 10 #11). Recordings Jay made three months prior to his death are currently being prepared for release by Mississippi Records.
Albums
One Man Band (Track Listing)1. Woke Up This Morning
2. Bring It When You Come
3. Cocaine Blues
4. I'm So Depressed
5. Vietnam
6. V. D.
7. I'm a hard working man
8. Wee Wee
9. I wanna job
10. Don't Mess with Me Baby
11. Royal Palm
12. Cocaine
13. Swaunee
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWy_cLp4sUw