1927 — 2018
Saxophonist. Showman.
Rhythm & Blues Pioneer.
Cecil “Big Jay” McNeely (1927–2018) was a Watts-born saxophonist and electrifying showman whose seven-decade career helped shape the sound and performance culture of rhythm & blues and early rock & roll. From Los Angeles stages to audiences around the world, his music crossed generations and cultural communities while remaining deeply connected to the city that first shaped him.
FROM WATTS TO THE WORLD
The King of the Honkers
Seven Decades of Music
THE LEGACY
Seven decades. One unmistakable sound.
1949
"DEACON'S HOP"
Reached No. 1 on the national R&B chart, placing a young Watts musician on the national stage.
2001
PIONEER AWARD
Honored by the Rhythm & Blues Foundation with its Pioneer Award for his contributions to the genre.
2014
BLUES HALL OF FAME
Inducted by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, recognizing his enduring body of work.
2017
GRAMMY MUSEUM
At age 90, his seven-decade career was celebrated with a GRAMMY Museum conversation and live performance.
THE CENTENNIAL
1927 – 2027
100 YEARS OF BIG JAY
