Screamin' Jay Hawkins

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Jalacy J. Hawkins' wild songs and onstage theatrics of his self-created brand of voodoo jive earned him the name Screamin' Jay Hawkins. His act has often featured him emerging from a casket to sing his best-known hit, "I put a spell on you" (1956), carrying a skull smoking a cigarette (you know smoking's bad for you, look at Henry...). Other novelties, ranging from "Feast of the Mau Maus" to "Constipation blues" (1967), may have stereotyped his talent, but on the other hand, his idiosyncracies have brought him TV and movie appearances that would have eluded him had he played his music straight. Regardless of style, Hawkins's recordings still display a remarkable voice, which would have been used for opera had Screamin' Jay had his way.

Sweet Daddy Hawk died on 12 February 2000 at the age of 70.

Read a great interview with Screamin' Jay Hawkins! (thanks to Trevor Cajiao from Now Dig This)

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  • Screamin' J Robbins seems to know a lot about Hawkins and during a conversation at Pachyderm Studios he told me about the time he actually saw the man play live in DC. Apparently Hawkins was not touring with a band, but rather alone in a car and then he would have the venue provide a backing band for him. I'm not sure if he required the club to furnish a coffin for him to arise from as he was known to do back in the day... but I do know that the band was so unfamiliar with Hawkins' songs, that Screaming Jay actually had to scream out the notes for them during the song! J said it was awful and completely embarrassing. Can you imagine. "I put a spell on you... G SHARP! ... because you're mine... B FLAT! ...stop the things you do... A MINOR SEVENTH DIMINISHED!"
  • including George Clinton, Arthur Brown, Alice Cooper, Dr. John, Ted Nugent, Black Sabbath, Screaming Lord Sutch, Warren Zevon, and Marilyn Manson, among the many who vied for Hawkins' title as a rock and roll madman.
  • His starring roles in Jim Jarmusch's films 'Stranger Than Paradise' and 'Mystery Train' led to other movie performances, such as Álex de la Iglesia's 'Perdita Durango' and Bill Duke's adaptation of Chester Himes' 'A Rage In Harlem', and his song "Frenzy" being featured in "The X Files".

Discography

Singles | Albums | Compilations

Destroy all DJs with Screamin' Jay: http://blues.discogs.com/release/330188

Screaming Lord Sutch discography http://www.rosalyn.me.uk/loonyarchive/sutchrecords.html


WAITS V. LEVI STRAUSS & Co. http://www.keeslau.com/TomWaitsSupplement/Copyright/copyrightwaitslevis.htm



Various Artists - Mercury Blues Story: East Coast Blues, Vol. 2 (Universe [Italy]) Sept 27 — 26 tracks from Mercury Records; with Joyce Jackson, Dinah Washington, Joe Houston, 'Manhattan' Paul Bascombe, Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra with Ella Johnson, Zilla Mays with John Peek & The Blues Caravan, Ricky Harper, Stomp Gordon, Jay Hawkins, Titus Turner and Arthur Prysock


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