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.
Things That Are Love
Jimmy Scott Lyrics
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The golden flicker of the firefly,
The gleam of lovelight in your lovely eye,
These are the things I love.
A silver moonbeam peepin' through the trees,
A bed of tulips noddin' in the breeze,
The look you gave in answer to my pleas,
Oh, once I thought that life was just a Winter thing,
My heart was cold;
And then you came to me,
And like a breath of Spring,
You turned the silver to gold.
The robin's serenade when day is through,
The babbling brook beside our rendezvous,
your sweet voice whispering, "Darling I love you!",
These are the things I love.
A robin's serenade when day is through,
The babbling brook beside our rendezvous,
your sweet voice whispering, "Darling I love you!",
These are the things I love.
In these lyrics, Jimmy Scott expresses his deep appreciation and love for various simple and beautiful aspects of life. He starts by mentioning the natural beauty of a summer sunset and the enchanting sight of a firefly's golden flicker. These small moments of beauty are further accentuated by the gleam of love that he sees in his lover's eyes. Through these lines, Scott suggests that love can be found and cherished in the everyday wonders of the world.
Continuing his contemplation, Scott describes a silver moonbeam peeping through the trees, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. He also mentions a bed of tulips gently swaying in the breeze, symbolizing the delicate and vibrant moments in life that fill him with joy. Additionally, he highlights the significance of the look his lover gives him in response to his pleas, implying that their unspoken connection and understanding are also sources of love and happiness.
The following stanza reflects how Scott's perspective on life dramatically changed after meeting his lover. Previously, he believed that life was cold and devoid of meaning, much like winter. However, his lover became the catalyst for a transformative experience. Like a breath of spring, they brought warmth and renewed vitality into his existence, turning the once dull and lifeless silver into a radiant gold. This line suggests that love has the power to bring forth a sense of renewal and rejuvenation.
In the final stanza, Scott emphasizes the importance of small yet significant moments shared with his lover. He mentions the robin's serenade at the end of the day, representing the soothing and comforting presence his lover provides. The babbling brook beside their rendezvous signifies their private and intimate retreat, a place where they can escape from the world and revel in their love. The sweet whisper of his lover's voice expressing affection resonates deeply, providing a sense of security, reassurance, and validation. These simple yet profound expressions of love and connection are what Scott cherishes most.
Overall, "Things That Are Love" explores the idea that love can be found in the beauty of nature, the transformative power of relationships, and the small moments of connection and affection between two individuals. Through his heartfelt lyrics, Jimmy Scott invites listeners to appreciate and cherish the simple joys and experiences that love brings into their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The glow of sunset in the Summer sky,
The peaceful and beautiful view of a sunset in the summertime.
The golden flicker of the firefly,
The mesmerizing and radiant light emitted by a firefly.
The gleam of lovelight in your lovely eye,
The affectionate and affectionate expression in your eyes.
These are the things I love.
These are the moments and experiences that bring me joy and love.
A silver moonbeam peepin' through the trees,
The gentle and delicate moonlight shining through the trees.
A bed of tulips noddin' in the breeze,
A field of tulips swaying gracefully in the wind.
The look you gave in answer to my pleas,
The meaningful and understanding look you gave me in response to my requests.
These are the things I love.
These are the moments and experiences that bring me joy and love.
Oh, once I thought that life was just a Winter thing,
In the past, I believed that life was only filled with coldness and emptiness, like winter.
My heart was cold;
My emotions and feelings were distant and unfeeling.
And then you came to me,
But then you entered my life.
And like a breath of Spring,
And just like a refreshing and rejuvenating breath of spring.
You turned the silver to gold.
You transformed the dull and lifeless into something bright and valuable.
The robin's serenade when day is through,
The delightful melody sung by a robin when the day comes to an end.
The babbling brook beside our rendezvous,
The cheerful and soothing sound of a brook flowing near our meeting place.
Your sweet voice whispering, "Darling I love you!",
The tender and affectionate words you speak, expressing your love for me.
These are the things I love.
These are the moments and experiences that bring me joy and love.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD BARLOW, LEWIS HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind