Photographer Bob Willoughby was a friend of JazzWax. Before his death in December 2009, we corresponded about a book idea he was shopping around from his home in Vence, France. Bob and I first became acquainted when I asked him for the story behind his famous photos of tenor saxophonist Big Jay McNeely performing at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1951. What knocked me out in particular, was the euphoria on teens' faces as they listened in ecstasy to Big Jay playing on his back from the stage.

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