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.
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Jimmy Scott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strive for lofty goals,
Others play at smaller games,
Being simpler souls.
I am of the latter brand;
All I want to do,
Is to find a spot of land,
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high,
You and I,
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill.
And we'll be pleased to be called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
Someday we may be adding a thing or two,
A wing or two.
We will make changes as any fam'ly will,
But we will always be called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green,
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen.
And when the kids grow up and leave us,
We'll sit and look at the same old view,
Just we two.
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill,
The folks who like to be called,
What they have always been called,
"The folks who live on the hill".
The lyrics of Jimmy Scott's song The Folks Who Live on the Hill convey a simple yet powerful message of contentment and being happy with the simpler things in life. The song speaks of two kinds of people - those who strive for lofty goals and others who are content with simple pleasures. The singer identifies himself to be of the latter brand and expresses his desire to build a home on a hilltop with his loved one.
The imagery of a cottage on a hilltop creates a beautiful visual of a serene and peaceful life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The idea of adding wings or making changes when needed conveys the message that life is not stagnant but constantly evolving. However, the fundamental desire to be happy and content remains constant. The song's conclusion with the reference to "Darby and Joan" who used to be "Jack and Jill" captures the universal desire of individuals to find a place called home and being content in each other's company.
In summary, the song speaks of the desire for a simple life with a loved one, away from the noise of the world, and finding contentment in each other's company. The theme of the song is timeless and relatable to people across generations and cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
Many men with lofty aims
There are many men who have grand aspirations and goals for their lives.
Strive for lofty goals
They work hard to achieve these big dreams and objectives in their lives.
Others play at smaller games
Other people have simpler, less grandiose interests and activities.
Being simpler souls
These people are content with more modest and humble lifestyles.
I am of the latter brand
I identify with those who prefer simpler, less complicated lives.
All I want to do
My desires are not complicated or extravagant.
Is to find a spot of land
I aspire to own a small piece of property somewhere.
And live there with you
My ultimate goal is to share this simple life with someone I love and care for deeply.
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high
Sometime in the future, we will build a home in a beautiful location with stunning views.
You and I
This dream is something we will share together as partners.
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill
Our home will be fresh, clean, and cozy, with just enough space for the two of us to occupy.
And we'll be pleased to be called
We will feel happy and satisfied with our lives and accomplishments.
"The folks who live on the hill"
We will be known in our community as the people who live happily and contentedly in our hilltop home.
Someday we may be adding a thing or two
As time goes on, we may make revisions or additions to our home or our lives.
A wing or two
We may add more rooms or space to our home in the future.
We will make changes as any fam'ly will
Our family will change and evolve over time, and we will adapt and adjust as needed.
But we will always be called
No matter how much we change, our identity as content, satisfied residents of our hilltop home will remain constant.
"The folks who live on the hill"
We will continue to be known as the people who maintain a simple yet fulfilling life on our perch high above the rest of the world.
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green
Our porch will provide us with a stunning view of lush, green fields and pastures.
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen
The scenery we will witness from our porch will be so breathtakingly beautiful that it will feel like the view is begging to be looked at and appreciated.
And when the kids grow up and leave us
As our children mature and move away, we will adjust and find new ways to occupy ourselves and our time.
We'll sit and look at the same old view
We will continue to enjoy and cherish the same magnificent view from our porch, even as we grow older and our lives change.
Just we two
We will remain devoted to each other and find joy in each other's company, even as our family grows and moves away from home.
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill
We will become an older, devoted couple with a longstanding history and fond memories.
The folks who like to be called
We prefer to identify ourselves as
What they have always been called
The people who live happily and contentedly on their hilltop home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar II Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jamil Muhammad
Pure, unadulterated BEAUTY! Thank you so much for uploading this rare gem...I really, really appreciate it.
Patricia Martin
I have always adored everything he sang. he was so special. RIP.
jdptulsa
This is beautiful. His voice and the accompanying music is absolutely beautiful. I love this guy. God bless him.
Janice McLaurin
No one, does it better. Simply beautiful!!!!
dangervich
A must-have album. If you imitate his phrasing, you understand just how deep the feeling goes. His Day By Day is also out of this world. Thanks for posting!
Paul Trantow
Godspeed, Jimmy! You were the best!
sdovas
Aw Jimmy. A voice from the heavens, and a privilege to have experienced it live. He could sing slower than anyone else I've ever heard and pull it off beautifully because of that pure glorious tone he had. A master.
Mbonisi
Listening to this dude that until tonight i had never heard of. Killing me that I ballin like a baby and wondering why i havent heard of him before. The music is so ....just beautiful. And to think, he was here, sharing the same space with me and i knew nothing of him.....Im speechless.
Jay Green
Simply one of the best during his time
Jay Green
All-time great