Exclusive Song of the Day: "Wee Wee," Abner Jay

Utterly unique music from "the last of the Southern black minstrels."

Published March 19, 2007 7:01AM (EDT)

Abner Jay of Fitzgerald, Ga., spent more than 40 years putting together one of American music's most singular bodies of work before he passed away in 1993. Performing as a one-man band on guitar, drums, harmonica and banjo, Jay was the self-described "last great Southern black minstrel show" and for decades toured the South in his camper van, playing his highly idiosyncratic music wherever he could draw a crowd. Many of his performances involved long, spoken introductions, of which this song gives you a small taste. Jay's strange, bluesy music was also frequently lewd, and "Wee Wee" is an example of the more family-friendly side of his bathroom humor. You'll realize how terrible a pun that is once you listen to this oddly beguiling song taken from a new reissue of Jay's recordings.

-- David Marchese

(The Song of the Day is also available as a podcast. Subscribe: iTunes or RSS)


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