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.
When Did You Leave Heaven?
Jimmy Scott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why did they let you go?
How's everything in heaven?
I 'd like to know
Why did you trade heaven
For these earthly things?
Where did you leave your halo?
If I kissed you
Would it be a sin?
Will they miss you?
Can you get back in?
I am only human
But you are so divine
When did you leave heaven?
Angel mine
When did you leave heaven
Angel mine
"When Did You Leave Heaven?" is a song originally recorded in 1936, but it has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Jimmy Scott. The lyrics of the song are a combination of fascination and lament for a love interest who is believed to have come from heaven. The singer questions when their love left heaven, why they left, and what life is like in the heavenly realm. The singer is longing to be with their love again and is feeling unworthy of the divine nature of their partner.
The song's lyrics are rich with metaphors and references to heaven and divinity. The person the singer is addressing is referred to as an "angel mine," evoking images of an otherworldly being. The singer also wonders where their love interest's halo and wings have gone, suggesting that they have lost some of their divine qualities by being on Earth. The singer feels conflicted about their desire for their love interest, asking if kissing them would be a sin, suggesting that their love interest might be too pure for the earthly realm. The song's slow, mournful melody lends to the poignant longing that the singer feels for their lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
When did you leave heaven?
Asking the angel when they left heaven
Why did they let you go?
Questioning why the angels would let such a divine being leave heaven
How's everything in heaven?
Curious about the current state of heaven
I'd like to know
Expressing a desire to have more knowledge about heaven
Why did you trade heaven
Asking why the angel would give up paradise for worldly things
For these earthly things?
Wondering what earthly things caused the angel to leave heaven
Where did you leave your halo?
Curious about the whereabouts of the angel's holy symbol
Where did you lose your wings?
Wondering how the angel lost their divine wings
If I kissed you
Hypothetically wondering about the consequences of sharing an intimate moment with an angel
Would it be a sin?
Questioning the moral implications of a human interacting with a divine being
Will they miss you?
Wondering if the angel's absence is felt in heaven
Can you get back in?
Asking if it's possible for the angel to return to heaven
I am only human
Acknowledging the singer's limitations as a mortal being
But you are so divine
Highlighting the angel's divine qualities
When did you leave heaven?
Repeating the opening line to emphasize curiosity about the angel's departure
Angel mine
Addressing the angel in a loving and affectionate manner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD A. WHITING, WALTER BULLOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken Flott
Pure genius. Was lucky enough to see him live 3 times and meet him everytime. Nicest human on the planet. Much love Jimmy. Much love.
Jeanie Scott
Jimmy made heaven on earth in every situation now he is truly an angel in heaven. My Angel.
BrickCityBornandBred
I will always love the sound of your voice! Rest In Peace.
Gloria Allen
Great voice.
Mrs. Jimmy Scott - Jazz Wife 1
PJ DooWop, This is Mrs. Jimmy Scott. I can tell you for a fact that Johnny Ray & LaVerne Baker would sit in the front row at the Apollo and watch Jimmy's performances. Jimmy always cried when he sang becaused he lost his mother when he was 13 and never got over it. This is part of why his emotions onstage are so genuine and seem like a matter of life & death, it is his reality. Jimmy's crying on stage was real, Johnny Ray's imitation was fake. True fact. Jeanie Scott
bird of the abyss
I thought he made this song to worship Lucifer
Mrs. Jimmy Scott - Jazz Wife 1
@bird of the abyss That is sick.
bird of the abyss
@Mrs. Jimmy Scott - Jazz Wife 1 yeah it’s pretty cool. thank you for your reply
Anita Taylor
@bird of the abyss k
Tom Thiel
Thanks so much for the background, Mrs. Scott. Catherine Russel, a wonderful jazz singer, hits that same note at the end of her version. Perhaps to honor Jimmy. But this is so sweet. Special meaning for me as well.