Jimmy Scott American jazz vocalist Date of Birth: 17.07.1925 Country: USA

Biography of Jimmy Scott

Jimmy Scott was an American jazz vocalist, best known for his unusually high contralto voice. He was born as James Victor Scott in Cleveland, Ohio, and was the third of ten children. Scott began singing at a young age, first within his family accompanied by his mother playing the piano, and later joining a church choir.

Scott's unique voice was attributed to a rare genetic condition called Kallmann syndrome, which hindered his growth and left him with an unusual "childlike" contralto voice. Despite his height of only 1.49 meters until the age of 37, Scott grew a bit taller later in life, adding approximately 20 centimeters to his height.

In the late 1940s, Scott gained his first taste of fame as a member of the Lionel Hampton Band, where he sang the lead in the popular composition "Everybody's Somebody's Fool." While his name was not prominently mentioned, Scott began to earn a reputation for his incredible charisma and distinctive voice. Renowned musicians such as Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Frankie Valli, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson held high regard for his vocal talent.

In 1963, Scott signed a contract with Ray Charles' label, Tangerine Records, and had the opportunity to work under Charles himself. During this period, he created one of the greatest jazz albums in history, "Falling in Love is Wonderful." However, legal issues and disputes hindered the release of the album, which was only reissued 40 years later.

By the late 1960s, Scott's career had declined, and he returned to Cleveland, where he worked as a clerk, janitor, and hotel elevator operator. In 1991, Scott made a sudden comeback to music after performing at the funeral of his old friend, Doc Pomus. He collaborated with Lou Reed on the song "Power and Glory" as a tribute to Pomus.

Scott also appeared in the cult television series "Twin Peaks," performing the composition "Sycamore Trees" written by David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti. He was later featured in the soundtrack of the film "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me."

In 1992, Seymour Stein, the founder and head of Sire Records, released Scott's new album "All The Way," which earned him a Grammy nomination. He went on to release several successful albums, including "Dream" in 1994, "Heaven" in 1996, and "Holding Back The Years" in 1998, which received critical acclaim and prestigious awards.

Throughout his 65-year career, Scott collaborated with numerous influential musicians such as Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Lester Young, Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, Fats Navarro, Quincy Jones, Bud Powell, Ray Charles, Wynton Marsalis, and Peter Cincotti.

Scott, who twice performed at presidential inaugurations, passed away on June 12, 2014, at the age of 88 from a heart attack. He died in his home in Las Vegas.