Bobby Scott (musician)

Robert William Scott (January 29, 1937 – November 5, 1990) was an American musician, record producer, and songwriter.

Bobby Scott
Birth nameRobert William Scott
Born(1937-01-29)January 29, 1937
Mount Pleasant, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 5, 1990(1990-11-05) (aged 53)
New York City, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer, songwriter
InstrumentsPiano, vibraphone
LabelsABC, Verve, Atlantic, Mercury

Biography

Scott was born in Mount Pleasant, New York, and became a pianist, vibraphonist, and singer, and could also play the accordion, cello, clarinet, and double bass. He studied under Edvard Moritz at the La Follette School of Music at the age of eight, and was working professionally at 11.[1] In 1952 he began touring with Louis Prima, and also toured and performed with Gene Krupa, Lester Young, and Tony Scott in the 1950s. In 1956 he hit the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with the song "Chain Gang", peaking at #13.[2] (This was not the same song as the 1960 pop hit "Chain Gang" by American singer/songwriter Sam Cooke.) It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3]

Career and Grammy Award

As a bandleader, he did sessions for Verve, ABC-Paramount, Bethlehem, and Musicmasters. As a songwriter, he won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for the song "A Taste of Honey".[4] In addition to "A Taste of Honey", Scott also co-wrote the song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".[5] In the 1960s he became a music teacher and studied again under Moritz, but occasionally recorded as well, including a Nat King Cole tribute album released in the 1980s. He also composed film soundtracks, including the scores to Slaves (1969), Joe (1970), and Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! (1971). During the 1980s he composed music for classical guitar, harp, and piano. He also arranged for jazz and easy listening musicians such as Les and Larry Elgart.

Death

Scott died of lung cancer in New York City, at the age of 53.[6]

Discography
  • The Jazz Keyboard of Bobby Scott (1953)
  • Great Scott (Bethlehem 1954)
  • The Compositions of Bobby Scott, Volume 1 (Bethlehem 1954)
  • The Compositions of Bobby Scott, Volume 2 (Bethlehem 1954)
  • The Compositions of Bobby Scott (Bethlehem 1955)
  • Scott Free (ABC-Paramount 1956)
  • Bobby Scott and Two Horns (ABC-Paramount 1957)
  • Bobby Scott Sings the Best of Lerner and Loewe (Verve 1958)
  • Serenata - Bobby Scott, Pianist (Verve 1959)
  • Bobby Scott Plays the Music of Leonard Bernstein (Verve 1959)
  • Bobby Scott with Friends (1960)
  • The Complete Musician (Atlantic 1960)
  • A Taste Of Honey (Atlantic 1960)
  • Larry Elgart and His Orchestra "Visions American Legends: A New Look And A New Sound" Music composed by Bobby Scott (MGM 1961)
  • Larry Elgart and His Orchestra "The City" Music composed by Bobby Scott (MGM 1963)
  • Joyful Noises (Mercury 1962)
  • When The Feeling Hits You (Mercury 1963)
  • 108 Pounds of Heartache (Mercury 1963)
  • I Had a Ball (Mercury 1964)
  • Original Soundtrack Recording "The Pawnbroker" (1964)
  • "Bobby Scott Sings-My Heart in My Hands" (Columbia 1967)
  • "Star" (Columbia 1969)
  • Original Soundtrack Recording "Slaves" (1969)
  • Original Soundtrack Recording "Joe" (1970)
  • Robert William Scott (Warner Bros. 1970)
  • From Eden to Canaan (Columbia 1976)
  • For Sentimental Reasons (MusicMasters 1990)
  • Slowly (Recorded May 24, 25 & 29, 1990, BMG Studios, New York City)
  • Featured artist - (piano) Original soundtrack recording In the Heat of the Night (1967)
  • Featured artist - (piano) Original soundtrack recording The Color Purple (1985)[7]

As sideman
With Chet Baker

With Buddy Emmons

With Quincy Jones

References
  1. Wynn, Ron. "Bobby Scott Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2000). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th ed.). ISBN 978-0823085545.
  3. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 86. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  4. "Bobby Scott Grammy Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. Pareles, Jon (August 26, 1982). "Pop: Bobby Scott Returns". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  6. "Bobby Scott, 53, Dies; Composer and Singer". The New York Times. November 10, 1990. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. Calter, Susan (Spring 2003). "Bobby Scott—A Taste of Honey…Sweet!". The Dick Haymes Society. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
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