Scott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Authur and Justine Stanard Scott, the third in a family of ten. As a child Jimmy got his first singing experience by his mother's side at the family piano, and later, in church choir. At thirteen, he was orphaned when his mother was killed by a drunk driver.
He first rose to national prominence as "Little Jimmy Scott" in the Lionel Hampton Band when he sang lead on the late 1940s hit "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", recorded in December 1949, and which became a top ten R&B hit in 1950. Credit on the label, however, went to "Lionel Hampton and vocalists", so the singer's name did not appear on any of the songs. This omission of credit was not only a slight to Scott's talent but a big blow to his career. A similar professional insult occurred several years later when his vocal on "Embraceable You" with Charlie Parker, on the album One Night in Birdland, was credited to female vocalist Chubby Newsome.
Lionel Hampton gave him the stage name of "Little Jimmy Scott" because he looked so young, and was short and of slight build. However, it was his extraordinary phrasing and romantic feeling that made him a favorite singer of fellow artists such as Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Frankie Valli, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson.
In 1963, it looked as though Scott's luck had changed for the good. He was signed to Ray Charles' Tangerine Records label, under the supervision of Charles himself, creating what is considered by many to be one of the great jazz vocal albums of all time, Falling in Love is Wonderful.
Owing to obligations on a contract that Scott had signed earlier with Herman Lubinsky, the record was yanked from the shelves in a matter of days, while Jimmy was honeymooning. Forty years later this cult album became available to the public again. Scott disputes the "lifetime" contract; Lubinsky loaned Jimmy out to Syd Nathan at King Records for 45 recordings in 1957–58. Another album, The Source (1969), was not released until 2001.
Scott's career faded by the late 1960s and he returned to his native Cleveland to work as a hospital orderly, shipping clerk and as an elevator operator in a hotel.
Scott eventually resurfaced in 1991 when he sang at the funeral of his long-time friend Doc Pomus, an event that single-handedly sparked his career renaissance. Afterwards Lou Reed recruited him to sing back-up on the track "Power and Glory" from his 1992 album Magic and Loss, which was inspired, to an extent, by Pomus's death. Scott was seen on the series finale of David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks, singing "Sycamore Trees", a song with lyrics by Lynch and music by Angelo Badalamenti. Scott was featured on the soundtrack of the follow-up film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
Also in attendance at Pomus's funeral was Seymour Stein, founder and operator of Sire Records, who released Scott's 1992 album All The Way, produced by Tommy Lipuma and featuring artists such as Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and David "Fathead" Newman. Scott was nominated for a Grammy Award for this album.
He followed this up with the album Dream in 1994 and the jazz-gospel album Heaven in 1996. His next work, a critically acclaimed album of pop and rock interpretations entitled Holding Back The Years was produced by Gerry McCarthy and Dale Ashley. Released in the US on Artists Only Records in October 1998, it peaked at #14 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. In Japan, it won the prestigious Swing Journal Award for Best Jazz Album Of The Year (2000). The title track marked the first time in his career that Scott overdubbed his own harmony vocal tracks. Holding Back The Years features cover art by Mark Kostabi, liner notes by Lou Reed, and includes critically acclaimed versions of "Nothing Compares 2 U" (written by Prince), "Jealous Guy" (John Lennon), "Almost Blue" (Elvis Costello) and "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" (Elton John & Bernie Taupin).
In 1999, Scott's early recordings on the Decca label were re-released on CD, as were all of his recordings with the Savoy Label between 1952 and 1975 in a three-disc box set. In 2000, Scott signed to the Milestone jazz label, and recorded four critically acclaimed albums, each produced by Todd Barkan, and featuring a variety of jazz artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Renee Rosnes, Bob Kindred, Eric Alexander, Lew Soloff, George Mraz, Lewis Nash, as well as Jimmy's own touring and recording band "The Jazz Expressions". He also released two live albums, both recorded in Japan, featuring the Jazz Expressions.
In 2012, he joined the 11th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers. For some years a new album entitled I Remember You was mentioned via various official channels, including Jimmy's official website.
He died on June 12, 2014, aged 88.
Legacy
Scott's career spanned sixty-five years. He performed with Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Lester Young, Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, Fats Navarro, Quincy Jones, Bud Powell, Ray Charles, Wynton Marsalis, and Peter Cincotti. He also performed with a host of musicians from other genres of music, such as David Byrne, Lou Reed, Flea, Michael Stipe, and Antony & The Johnsons.
Scott performed at President Dwight Eisenhower's (1953) and President Bill Clinton's (1993) inaugurations, where he sang the same song, "Why Was I Born?". Later, Scott appeared in live performances with Pink Martini, and continued to perform internationally at music festivals and at his own concerts until shortly before his death.
In 2007, Scott received the 2007 NEA Jazz Master Award. He also received the Kennedy Center's "Jazz In Our Time" Living Legend Award, and N.A.B.O.B.'s Pioneer Award in 2007. In September 2008 he did a "two-day video interview" at his Vegas home with the "Smithsonian Institute for the National Archives". Scott and his wife Jeanie lived in Las Vegas, Nevada after 2007, having previously living in Euclid, Ohio, for 10 years.
Little Jimmy Scott's "If I Ever Lost You" can be heard in the opening credits of the HBO movie Lackawanna Blues. He was also mentioned on The Cosby Show, when Clair and Cliff Huxtable bet on the year in which "An Evening In Paradise" was recorded. On August 17, 2013, at Cleveland State University in his hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, he was inducted into inaugural 2013 of the R&B Music Hall of Fame.
An Evening in Paradise
Jimmy Scott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I spent with you
Heaven on earth
I shared with you
Your kisses were like
The first spring flower
I'm glad, so glad
Our hearts beat in rhythm
While looks of love abound
Rising too high
Lovers can't do without
We live for just the moment
In our secret rendezvous
Sharing an evening
In paradise with you
The song "An Evening in Paradise" by Jimmy Scott is a romantic ballad about a perfect evening spent with someone special. The lyrics describe the experience as 'heaven on earth' and express the joy and gratitude felt by the singer for being able to share this moment with their loved one. The imagery used in the song is very vivid and sensory, with metaphors referring to the first spring flower and hearts beating in rhythm. The song emphasizes the fleeting nature of such moments and the importance of cherishing them, conveying a sense of intimacy and vulnerability.
The song is interesting in its use of language and structure. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, yet poetic and evocative. The use of metaphors and imagery adds depth and texture to the emotional landscape of the song. The structure of the song is also noteworthy, with a clear verse-chorus structure and repetition of certain phrases and melodies adding to the overall effect. The choice of musical accompaniment, featuring lush strings and gentle piano, also contributes to the mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
An evening in paradise
The singer is recalling a particularly special evening they spent with someone
I spent with you
The singer is emphasizing that the evening was only memorable because of the person they shared it with
Heaven on earth
The singer felt as if they were in a perfect, idyllic world
I shared with you
The artist wants to highlight the fact that the other person was an integral part of the experience, and that they wouldn't have felt the same way without them
Your kisses were like
The artist is about to compare the other person's kisses to something else
The first spring flower
The other person's kisses were sweet, new, and invigorating, like the beginning of spring
I'm glad, so glad
The singer is extremely happy and grateful for the experience they had with the other person
This evening was ours
The artist is emphasizing that the evening was unique and special to the two of them
Our hearts beat in rhythm
The artist and the other person were perfectly in sync, both emotionally and physically
While looks of love abound
The two of them were surrounded by a powerful sense of affection and attraction
Rising too high
The singer and the other person's relationship is becoming very intense and passionate
Lovers can't do without
The two of them are deeply connected and always want to be together
We live for just the moment
The singer and the other person are enjoying a brief but beautiful moment together
In our secret rendezvous
The singer and the other person are meeting in a private and intimate setting
Sharing an evening
The two of them are experiencing this beautiful moment together
In paradise with you
The artist is once again emphasizing that the other person is the reason for the evening's beauty and perfection
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BETTY JEAN JACKSON, JIMMY J SCOTT, ROBERT BANKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LEX
An evening in paradise
I spent with you
Heaven on earth
I shared with you
Your kisses were like
The first spring flower
I'm glad, so glad
This evening was ours
Our hearts beat in rhythm
While looks of love abound
Rising too high
Lovers can't do without
We live for just the moment
In our secret rendezvous
Sharing an evening
In paradise with you
Hannah Perez
Une soirée au paradis
J'ai passé avec vous
Le paradis sur terre
J'ai partagé avec vous
Tes baisers sont comme
La première fleur du printemps
Je suis heureux, si heureux
Ce soir était le nôtre
Nos cœurs battent au rythme
Bien regards d'amour abondent
Monter trop haut
Les amoureux ne peut se passer
Nous vivons un peu le moment
Dans notre rendez-vous secret
Partage d'une soirée
Au paradis avec vous
MarcieLuvzMusic
This is truly "An Evening in Paradise"- what a gorgeous song and the voice belongs to a man, Mr. Jimmy Scott- with an exquisite sound that has never been duplicated, so thanks for making this such a Special Post/Upload... many, many stars for you, and Jimmy, a "Special Birthday Kiss for you today, July 17th, with all my Love-xxx Marcie and Dee* Can't wait to see you and Jeanie here soon!!! many Blessings!
2020 Perfect Vysion
Heard this on The Cosby Show. My parents always played Little Jimmy Scott but Cosby made me LOVE this song and research more about the young man with a voice as smooth and elegant as pure silk.....who today can say they have a voice so miraculous?
Shatelle Perry
I'm watching that episode right now!! Lol
Ryan W
Jesus Christ luvs you ❤
tee renee
If it hadn't been for that episode of the Cosby show I wouldn't have even known this talented amazing voice existed..
Aduni Ubaka
Right me either.
GEMLRB
I'm watching the Cosby Show right this moment with this song playing....... Love it!
Came to fine it here on YouTube and I'm glad I did.
Will share it with the world!
Monica Caldwell
I watching this on the Cosby show right now. I love it!!!
Theresa Dyer
Me too 😊
Aduni Ubaka
Me too