ARTIST'S WHO HAVE BEEN IFLUENCED OR INSPIRED BY LEGENDARY JIMMY SCOTT
Jimmy first met Doc Pomus in 1946 at the Baby Grand in Harlem. Doc asked to meet Jimmy after the show and they soon became fast friends. Doc loved Jimmy as he loved Big Joe Turner. He championed for these artist throughout their careers, he especially tried to help Jimmy make a comeback in the mid 1980's. He wrote a letter to the industry and Billboard magazine in 1987, chastising them for letting such national treasures fall through the cracks.
Known as a “Singer' Singer”, Jimmy Scott has influenced many singers
and actors, especially male & female vocalists, Nancy Wilson cites
Jimmy as her sole influence and claims “there would be no Nancy Wilson
if it weren't for Little Jimmy Scott”, who's phrasing and natural style
she studied since a child. Jimmy's thanks her and is appreciative. He
says if he's helped anyone in anyway he's happy for their success, as
he is happy for Nancy 's success, he's glad they were able to make
it in this tough business.
Some of Jimmy's admirer's include:
Nancy Wilson (Of her sole idol of song, she says, “Jimmy is without a doubt the master of the ballad form”)!
Billie Holiday (When asked by a N.Y. Times Reporter who her favorite singer was, she named only one, Jimmy Scott)!
Dinah Washington (Whenever she couldn't make a “gig” she'd have Jimmy take her place, she said, “they won't be disappointed if they get you Jimmy”)!
Big Maybelle ( Who would ask Jimmy, if she could sing his songs on the show they toured on together, they would switch the ballads with each other every night)!
Quincy Jones (“Q” and Jimmy were kids in Lionel Hampton's Band together, “Q” said, “Jimmy would tear my heart out every night with his sole-penetrating style”)!
Ray Charles (who asked Jimmy to be one of the first Artists to record on his new label in 1962, said “Jimmy was singing soul way back before the word was being used”)!
Liza Minelli (said, “Every singer should get down and kiss his feet”)! That's quite a statement coming from the daughter of one of Jimmy's influences, Judy Garland.
Joe Pesci (calls Jimmy “the master” and says, “Jimmy had a big influence on him for both singing and acting”)!
Madonna (told reporter N.Y. Liz Smith at Tavern on the Green “Jimmy
is the only singer that can make her cry”)!
Ethan Hawke (who used Jimmy in his movie “Chelsea Walls” attended Jimmy's show at' Birdland' with many actor and director friends was asked by a reporter, “Why they were all there” Ethan said, “We're here to learn acting from Jimmy”)!
Bill Cosby (who featured one of Jimmy's albums on his show and played “Evening In Paradise” cites Jimmy along with Big Maybelle as his favorite singers)!
Sherman Hemsley (While on Arsenio Hall's talk show stated, “that if I could sing like anybody in the world, I'd want to sing just like Little Jimmy Scott”)!
Marvin Gaye (While in self-imposed exile in Belgium , David Ritz went to visit him while writing his bio. Marvin had only one record album that he continuously listened to around the clock and that was Jimmy Scott's album “Falling In Love Is Wonderful”)! Marvin said “I always wanted to sing in Jimmy's style”!!
Billy Joel, Sting, Elton John, all Jimmy Scott admirers. (Elton told Jimmy, “You are an inspiration to me. I Love You”!).
Photo Credit: Mazur
Johnnie Ray (would attend Jimmy's shows and sit in the front row at the Apollo with LaVerne Baker, as Jimmy's tears flowed every night when he sang, what followed next for Johnnie's stage show(?)…I think you know the rest! :) )! Jimmy's tears were real ones shed for the loss of his mother, unlike other imitators who used tears as a stage gimic.
Lou Reed (says, “Watching Jimmy is like watching a performing heart”)!
Louis
Stokes. Jimmy & Louis Stokes were school chums at Central High School,
Cleveland, Ohio and Jimmy's Aunt, the Principal of the school, a member
of the Board of Education and the first black Lawyer in Ohio,
was Louis's mentor.
Jimmy
sang “Why Was I Born” at President Clinton's Inauguration in
1993, 40 years after singing the same
song, at President Eisenhower's Inauguration in 1953. Bill
Clinton is
a big fan of Jimmy's, and called BGO
Radio to talk with Jimmy while
he was on-air doing an interview!
Other admirers include:
Louis “Pops” Armstrong (a.k.a. Satchmo) Lester “Pres” Young
Redd Foxx Joe Louis Ralph Cooper Nipsy Russell
Ruth Brown Charles Brown La Verne Baker
Linda Hopkins Cissy Houston Gloria Lynn Hadda Brooks
Ernestine Anderson Etta James Francine Griffin
Shirley Horn Abbey Lincoln Max Roach Billy Taylor
Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown's Band)
Grady Tate Jimmy McGriff Randy Weston
David “Fathead” Newman Charlie “Bird” Parker
Etta Jones Harold Ousley Lionel Hampton Paul Gayton
Marcus Belgrave James Carter Benny Powell Benny Carter
Annie Laurie Larry Darnell Irma Curry Mabel John
Little Esther Frankie Lymon (The Teenagers) Jimmy Charles
The Schoolboys Little Willie John Ray Charles James Brown
Little Anthony (The Imperials) Louis Farrakhan The O'Jays
Jackie Wilson The Manhattans Gerald Levert Denise Williams
Smokey Robinson (The Miracles) Little Stevie Wonder
Chazz Dixon Aaron Neville Linda Ronstad Frank Sinatra
Joni Mitchell Bonnie Raitt Doc Pomus Lou Reed
Frankie Valli (The Four Seasons) Billy Vera David Ritz
Narada Michael Walden Wil Hart (The Delfonics) Kelty Lester
Barbara Mason Dazee Luv (Undisputed Truth) Honey Cone
John Boutte Robert Lockwood, Jr. Joey Di Frencesco
Comic Chic-a-Dee Comedian Tim McCoy Joey Gian
Jean Carne Hal Wilner James Taylor Elton John
Sting Antonio Banderes Melanie Griffith Bette Midler
Christopher Walken David Lynch Quentin Tarantino
Billy Paul Avery Brooks Louie Anderson Tom Selleck
Kevin Spacey Marisa Tome Andy Bey Lance Hendrikkson
Dave Marash (Broadcaster-Nightline) Dalton (Portrait Artist)
Savion Glover Groundhog Carla Thomas Freda Payne
Nicholas Brothers Baby Lawrence Gregory Hines
Uma Thurman Natasha Richardson Alec Baldwin
Mikhail Barishnikov Clint Eastwood Kim Basinger
David Byrne Madonna Flea Eric Clapton
Van Morrison Dr. John Jools Holland Cassandra Wilson
Dianne Reeves Arlene Smith (Chantels) Ahmed Jamal
Richard Freeman (5 Satins) Weldon MacDougal III (The Larks)
Bobby Eli (Musician/Composer/Songwriter/Producer/Arranger)
Amiri Baraka (Poet/activist) Dr. Lonnie liston Smith
John Lennon Yoko Ono George Harrison David Sanborn
Michael Brooks Robert Guilliame James Avery
Delroy Lindo Sam Moore Ossie Davis Harry Belfonte
Ruby Dee Sydney Poitier Burt Reynolds Flip Wilson
Avery Brooks Robert Di Nero Harvey Keitel Mary Alice
Kenny Rankin John Lucien Dee Dee Bridgewater
Al Jarreu Flora Purim Diana Ross Felicia Rashad
Joan Lunden Sharon Felder Raoul Felder
Roger Armstrong (Ace Record owner) Florence Halfon (Catalog Coordinator, Warner Music UK) Claire Kerchoff (Catalog Coordinator, Union Square Music)
Fred Mendleshon Joel Dorn Tommy Li Puma Todd Barkan
Joe Franklin (T.V. Talk Show) Annie Leibowitz (Photographer)
Bruce Webber (Photographer) Avadon (Photographer)
Don King GordonParks(Photographer/FilmProducer/Director)
Harrison Dillard (Olympic Gold Medalist)
Senator Orrin Hatch Mayor Carl Stokes Shelley Winters
George Forbes (Prominent Cleveland Lawyer)
Govenor Arnold Schwatzeneggar
Colin Powell Howell Begle (Lawyer, R&B Foundation)
Terry Stewart (C.E.O. of the Rock Hall)
This list can go on and on… but I think you got the drift !!
ARTIST'S JIMMY ADMIRED & GOT INSPIRATION FROM WHILE GROWING UP IN THE 1930'S:
Paul Robeson (His biggest influence, he powerful meaning was felt by Jimmy.)
Judy Garland (When he saw her up on the movie screen singing at a similar age to him, he thought I could do that too!)Bing Crosby (When Jimmy first heard the song “When Did You Leave Heaven” sung by him.) Jimmy recorded it twice in his career.
Lil Green (Singer & Songwriter of “The Masquerade Is Over”.) Jimmy recorded it twice in his career.
Louis Armstrong (The were friends thru the years)
Billie Holiday (They were friends and a one point relatives, Jimmy officiated as family at her funeral.)
Herb Jeffries (The singing black cowboy, Jimmy admired his singing, finally met him at a L.A. performance at age 90! Quite inspiring to Jimmy.)
Bessie Smith (An inspiration)
Ethel Waters (An inspiration)
Joe Williams (Jimmy admired)
OTHER SINGER'S WHOM JIMMY ADMIRED THROUGHOUT THE 1930's, 40's, 50's & 60's:
Little Miss Cornshucks (His favorite female vocalist.)
Big Maybelle (A friend and respected peer whom Jimmy felt put on a unique and expressive stage show, he thought of her as a sister!)
Dinah Washington (Another unique vocalist he respected and thought of like a sister.)
Jimmy Reed (A young talented baritone jazz singer who was in the Summer Festivals and Caldonia's Revue with Jimmy.)
Nat King Cole (A great musician & vocalist.)
Johnny Hartmann (A song stylist that Jimmy admired and felt never got the recognition he deserved.)
Jesse Belvin (Same for him, a talented songwriter & smooth singer.)
Perry Cuomo (Jimmy liked his cool, laid-back style.)
Little Anthony (of ‘The Imperials', Jimmy admired him & his vocals as one of the new upcoming kids of his day, and still does enjoy his singing style today.)
As for today, James Ingram comes to mind, and the songwriting of Elton John & Bernie Taurpin, Jimmy recorded Elton's “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” and it's one of the most requested songs in his show today!!
