Screamin' Jay Hawkins

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 Mau" 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)

Sign guestbook [defunct] - - View old guestbook

Netstatzähler

• Little Bitty Pretty One originally by Bobby Day
• "Whistlin' Past The Graveyard". Included in the 2000 tribute album "New Coat Of Paint" (Manifesto records)
• 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!"

Songs

• "Alligator wine" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)
• "I put a spell on you" (Jalacy Hawkins)
• "Yellow coat" (Jalacy Hawkins)

Filmography

• 1957 Mister Rock and Roll
• 1978 American hot wax
• 1985 Joey
• 1988 Two Moon Junction
• 1989 Mystery train
• 1991 A rage in Harlem
• 1997 Perdita durango aka Dance with the Devil
• 1999 Peut-être aka Maybe
• 2001 57 kids (TV documentary)

Gallery

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  In the early days

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  in the movie Mister Rock and Roll (1957)

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  in the movie Mister Rock and Roll (1957)

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  1996. - Photo: Niles Frantz

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  1994.07.31 Berlin, ... (live). - Photo: Stefan Müller

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  1996 Chicago, "Chicago Blues Festival"

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  1996 (at a festival in France)

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  Screamin' Jay Hawkins on the cover of the CD AT LAST (1998). - Photo: Vincent Lignier

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  Screamin' Jay Hawkins photo session for the CD AT LAST (1998). - Photos: Vincent Lignier

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  Photo: (c) 2000 Jean-Pierre Arniac

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  T-shirt by Rocklegends4u: "Screamin' Jay and a ghostly voodoo apparition"

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Weblinks

• Jayskids.com - this site says to search for the about 57 children of Screamin' Jay Hawkins...
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Volker Stieber) - extensive biography with many quotes and album covers
• Voodoo Café : a tiny room of Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Screamin' Jay Hawkins tribute in Japanese
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins : Singles / Albums / Compilations (Wangdangdula.com / Pete Hoppula) - discography
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Tom Simon) - short biography
• Name: Jay Hawkins - short biography

minor sites

• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Wilson and Alroy's record reviews)
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Yahoo Music) - biography, discography, sound clips
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (UBL) - Biography, discography
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Last Call Records) - biography
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (CD Universe) - with many sound clips in RealAudio format
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (CD Now) - with some music clips in Real Audio and/or MPEG
• Blues diary 2003 - something in Japanese
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins : I put a spell on you - biography and album reviews in Norwegian
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Myspace.com)

Music

• Screamin' Jay Hawkins: FRENZY / STONE CRAZY - both albums complete in Real Audio
• The Big Black Hole : Michael Roberts' jukebox - feat. sound clips of "I put a spell on you" and "Little demon" in .AIFF format