by Marlon West (Bluesky: @marlonweststl.bsky.social, Spotify: marlonwest)
Happy Music Monday, you all. I’m back a week late, if you are counting. I have been thinking about the life and career of the utterly original Jimmy Scott.
His voice conveyed such vulnerability, and had such a haunting sound. Jimmy Scott’s life was filled with emotional and physical challenges.
When he was 13, he tragically lost his mother in a car accident, and about the same time he was diagnosed with Kallmann Syndrome. The rare hormonal disorder all-but prevented puberty in him.
Leaving him with a voice all his own.
Sometimes his singing credit was given to a female artist. This happened on Charlie Parker’s live version of “Embraceable You.”
Jimmy Scott saw his suffering as his salvation and was liberated by it. This tenacity lay at the core of his artistry: “All I needed was the courage to be me,” he said. “That courage took a lifetime to develop.”
Scott’s unique style and passion led him to become one of the most influential vocalists in history.
He inspired a diverse set of artists including Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson, Elton John, David Bowie, Lou Reed and Madonna. I became a fan when he experienced a third-act resurgence in popularity.
Scott’s career had faded by the late 1960s. He’d returned to his hometown of Cleveland and worked as a hospital orderly, shipping clerk, and elevator operator.
In 1989, Scott sang at the funeral of his friend, songwriter Doc Pomus, the event reignited his career. He performed the song “Sycamore Trees” in the final episode of the original Twin Peaks television series in 1991, and sang backup on the Lou Reed song “Power and Glory” for the 1992 album Magic and Loss.
Scott would record several studio albums before his death in 2014. Much of the material in this collection is made-up of those wonderful recordings. Please enjoy.
And as always, stay safe, sane, and kind.
