Bob Hay born Robert Donald Hay, Jr. on January 28, 1950, is an American songwriter and the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist for Athens, Georgia projects the Squalls,[1] Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Noogeez, A. Che Why and Supercluster.

Bob Hay
Bob Hay (musician) 2022.
Background information
Birth nameRobert Donald Hay,Jr
Also known asA.Che Why
Born (1950-01-28) January 28, 1950 (age 74)
GenresNew wave, folk rock, Beats producer, rock, Country-Rock, Old Time String Music
Occupation(s)Musician, Songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar
Vocals
Percussion
Harmonica
Banjo
Pennywhistle
Beats producer
Years active1978–present
LabelsMbrella
Dog Gone Records
Cloud Recordings
Studio Mouse Productions
Strolling Bones Records
Propeller Sound Recordings

Biography

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Hay was born on January 28, 1950, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to a postal worker and housewife.[2] He attended Aquinas College (Grand Rapids) and worked as a school teacher and as a statistician prior to moving to Kennebunkport, Maine.

As musician

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Hay was convinced by Ken Starratt to move to Athens, Georgia, from Maine after making a trip to Athens in the late 1970s and surveying the blossoming music scene. Bob met other local musicians including roommate "Big" Al Walsh, Mig Little and Diana Torell and formed the band Squalls. They were well known for switching instruments and singing duties during their shows. In 1986, they were featured in the movie Athens, GA: Inside Out.[3] Squalls (band) underwent various lineup changes after Mig Little left the band. They were joined by Mark Cooper Smith, Juan Molina, Paul Hammond and others at various times during their career. Squalls made a self-released e.p. and single, as well as two albums for Dog Gone It Records-a label owned by Jefferson Holt, the manager for REM. Squalls made several trips up and down the East coast of the U.S. and a trip through the mid-West before disbanding. They performed at the 40 Watt Club an astounding 64 times in their heyday.[4]

Hay never stopped jamming with his friends and briefly performed with a project called the Yams who learned covers of songs in hopes of playing bars and fraternity parties. This is where he began his association with multi-instrumentalist Bill David, a local musician with deep roots in the community.[5]

Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars began as a solo project. Hay became fascinated with the works of Robert Burns, the 18th century Scottish bard, after a random comment which was made during a jam session. He found songs by Robert Burns at the University of Georgia library and began to learn and arrange them. Other former members of the Squalls became interested and joined. They have released 3 CDs and perform sporadically in and around Athens, Georgia.[6][7]

Noogeez was dreamed up by Ken Starratt as a way to use Bob's older Squalls material in a kid-friendly format. 2 videos have been made so far using this material. Members of this band include Ken and Jorma Starratt, Ken's son. Their first video, "Kathy", won the audience choice award during the 2007 Athfest Sprockets competition.[8]

Hay married Vanessa Briscoe, the lead singer for Pylon[9] in 1986 and they have two daughters. She recruited him to play acoustic guitar in her recording project Supercluster. They self released an e.p. "Special 5" in December 2007 and released a full length work called Waves on Cloud Recordings in October 2009.[10]

Discography

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Squalls

Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars

  • Toils Obscure CD (self-released 2004)[19]
  • Tam Lin CD (self-released 2006)
  • Athfest 2005 CD (compilation of various Athens,GA artists, Ghostmeat, 2005)
  • Bawdy Noise CD (self-released 2009)

A. Che Why

Supercluster

References

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  1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: Squalls". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Robert Hay Obituary (2009) - Grand Rapids, MI - Grand Rapids Press". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  3. ^ "Travel Back In Time With Squalls On Live From The 40 Watt". Flagpole Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "Travel Back In Time With Squalls On Live From The 40 Watt". Flagpole Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Interview with Bill David, May 2, 2017 · UGA Special Collections Libraries Oral Histories". georgiaoralhistory.libs.uga.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  6. ^ "Rambles: Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Toils Obscure: Songs by Robert Burns". www.rambles.net. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  7. ^ "Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars". www.netnik.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  8. ^ "Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current, June 27, 2007, Image 22 « Georgia Historic Newspapers". gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  9. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (31 October 2003). The great indie discography. Canongate U.S. ISBN 978-1-84195-335-9. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  10. ^ "News in Brief: Supercluster, Killers, Efterklang, Fabric". Pitchfork. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  11. ^ https://www.discogs.com/master/707456-Squalls-Squalls
  12. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/5887537-Squalls-Crickets-Bride-Of-Frankenstein
  13. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/385127-Various-Music-From-The-Movie-Athens-GA-InsideOut
  14. ^ https://www.discogs.com/artist/264422-The-Squalls
  15. ^ https://www.discogs.com/master/954400-The-Squalls-Rebel-Shoes
  16. ^ https://www.discogs.com/master/1131518-The-Squalls-No-Time
  17. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/24214202-Squalls-Live-From-The-40-Watt
  18. ^ https://www.discogs.com/master/2885521-The-Squalls-Squalls
  19. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/7810617-Bob-Hay-The-Jolly-Beggars-Toils-Obscure-Songs-By-Robert-Burns
  20. ^ "A. Che Why". www.netnik.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  21. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/2971617-Supercluster-Waves
  22. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/2138421-Supercluster-I-Got-The-Answer
  23. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/2838621-Supercluster-Paris-Effect
  24. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/4522963-Supercluster-Things-We-Used-To-Drink
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