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.
Take My Hand
Jimmy Scott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am tired I am weak I am worn
Through the storm through the night lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord lead me home
When my way growith draer precious Lord linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry hear my call hold my hand last I fall
When the darkness appears and the night drawith near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand guide my feet hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord lead me home
(Lead me home)
The lyrics of Jimmy Scott's song Take My Hand expresses the sentiments of a soul that is struggling with the harsh realities of life. The song speaks of a person who is tired, weak, and worn out, looking for guidance and support from a higher power. The opening line "Precious Lord take my hand lead me on let me stand" seeks the help of the divine to sustain and uplift the singer.
The song acknowledges the difficulties and challenges that the singer has faced and is still facing, but it also seeks solace in the promise of a brighter future. The lyrics evoke powerful emotions of vulnerability, surrender, and humility. The refrain "Take my hand precious Lord lead me home" is a constant plea for divine intervention and guidance.
The song's message of hope and perseverance is universal and remains relevant today. It reminds us of the challenges we face in life and the need to seek help and guidance from a higher power to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
Precious Lord take my hand lead me on let me stand
Oh God, please give me strength to stand and help me move forward in life.
I am tired I am weak I am worn
I am completely drained and exhausted physically and emotionally.
Through the storm through the night lead me on to the light
In the midst of all chaos, guide me towards the ray of hope and positivity.
Take my hand precious Lord lead me home
Help me reach my final destination and accompany me until I get there.
When my way growith draer precious Lord linger near
When life gets tougher and difficult for me, stay and be with me.
When my life is almost gone
When I'm almost at the end of my life, please pay heed to my request.
Hear my cry hear my call hold my hand last I fall
Please hear my shout for help and hold my hand before I fall and fail.
Take my hand precious Lord lead me home
Guide me safely back to my heavenly abode when my time is up.
When the darkness appears and the night drawith near
When it's time for me to say goodbye and darkness is creeping in, please be with me.
And the day is past and gone
When the day is over, and I'm getting ready to leave this world.
At the river I stand guide my feet hold my hand
When I'm standing at the river of life, guide me safely across, holding my hand.
Take my hand precious Lord lead me home
Be with me in my final journey and lead me back to my eternal home.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas A. Dorsey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
deniseorita
Thank you for posting my favourite version of Precious Lord and such a tribute to a beautiful singer Mr Jimmy Scott R I P
Jason Tippitt
Thank you for posting this.
LINDA B
RIP MR JIMMY........1/5/2019
Mrs. Jimmy Scott - Jazz Wife 1
Ain't nothing like the real thing ~
Yourealisethesemasksmakeyoulooklikerealassholes?
Such a shame, that that voice had to make ends meet as a lift boy, while others made millions with nothing to give.