absolutelyapsalus:

thejusticethatissocial:

Hey y’all remember this photo?

The saxophonist is Big Jay McNeely, who died on Sept. 16th 2018 at the age of 91. He was a crucial part of LA’s postwar R&B explosion and helped lay the foundation for rock and roll.

In May 1953, Ebony magazine reported, “A young white lad got so hepped up over Big Jay’s music that he jumped out of a balcony onto the main floor, where he miraculously landed without hurting himself and went into a riotous dance.”

I did some digging and found that there were more photos from the infamous 1951 concert; all of which I thought deserved being seen as well. (All courtesy of Bob Willoughby, who was so enamoured he climbed up on stage)

It’s crazy to think that he kept on playing all the way up until his death.

Rest in Peace Big Jay. You are a legend.