Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Jalacy Hawkins, best known as Screamin' Jay Hawkins (July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000) was an African-American singer famed for his wildly theatrical performances of songs like "I Put a Spell on You" and "Constipation Blues". Image File history File links Jayhawkins. ... Image File history File links Jayhawkins. ... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...

Early career

Some sources believe that Hawkins is the long-lost brother of American R&B and rock and roll musician, Andre Williams. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Hawkins originally set out to become an opera singer, and has cited Paul Robeson and Enrico Caruso as early influences. When his initial ambitions failed, he began his career as a conventional blues singer and pianist. Andre Williams in front of Paard, The Hague, The Netherlands, 2005 Andre Williams (born Zeffrey Williams in Bessemer, Alabama, in 1936) is American R&B and rock and roll musician. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. ... Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American actor, athlete, bass-baritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, Communist sympathizer, Spingarn Medal winner, and Lenin Peace Prize laureate. ... Enrico Caruso (February 25, 1873 – August 2, 1921) was an Italian opera singer and one of the most famous tenors in history. ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that most often follows a twelve-bar structure. ... Pianist Claudio Arrau, Carnegie Hall, 1954. ...

He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, primarily as an entertainer, although he claimed to have been a POW. Hawkins was an avid and formidable boxer: in 1949, he was the middleweight boxing champion of Alaska. The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also called prizefighting or pugilism is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also called prizefighting or pugilism is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called... Official language(s) none Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ...

In 1951, he joined guitarist Tiny Grimes for a while, and recorded a few songs with him. When Hawkins became a solo performer, he often performed in a very stylish wardrobe, featuring leopard skins, red leather and wild hats. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Tiny Grimes was a jazz guitar player most famous for backing up alto player Charlie Parker. ... Binomial name Panthera pardus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis pardus Linnaeus, 1758 The Leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the four big cats of the genus Panthera. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ...

"I Put A Spell On You"

His most successful recording, "I Put a Spell on You" (1956), remains one of rock and roll's singular most significant compositions, and has been selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. I Put a Spell on You is a song written by Screamin Jay Hawkins, whose recording was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fames 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fames 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll is based on the permanent exhibit of the same name. ...

Later career

Hawkins had several further hits, including "Constipation Blues", "Orange Colored Sky", and "Feast of the Mau Mau". Nothing he released, however, had the massive success of "I Put a Spell on You". The Mau Mau Uprising was an insurgency by Kenyan rebels against the British colonial administration from 1952 to 1960. ...

He continued to tour and record through the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in Europe, where he was very popular, but his career was not advancing in America until filmmaker Jim Jarmusch featured "I Put a Spell on You" on the soundtrack – and deep in the plot – of his film Stranger Than Paradise (1983) and then Hawkins himself as a hotel night clerk in his Mystery Train. This led to a few other movie performances, such as Álex de la Iglesia's Perdita Durango and Bill Duke's adaptation of Chester Himes' A Rage In Harlem. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Jim Jarmusch Jim Jarmusch (born January 22, 1953 in Akron, Ohio) is a noted American independent film director. ... Stranger than Paradise Stranger Than Paradise is an absurdist comedy film written and directed by American director Jim Jarmusch in 1984. ... Mystery Train is a 1989 comedy movie written and directed by independent film director Jim Jarmusch and set in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Álex de la Iglesia (born December 4, 1965) is a Spanish film director. ... Perdita Durango, based on Barry Giffords novel 59° and Raining: The Story of Perdita Durango, is a cross between the crime and horror genres. ... Bill Duke (born February 26, 1943) is an American actor and film director. ... Chester Bomar Himes (July 29, 1909 – November 12, 1984) was a famous African American writer. ...

His 1957 single "Frenzy" (found on the early 1980s compilation of the same name) was included in the compilation CD, "Songs in the Key of X: Music From And Inspired By The X-Files", in 1996. This song was featured in the show's season 2 episode "Humbug". Songs In The Key Of X: Music From And Inspired By The X-Files was the first album released in association with the popular TV series The X-Files. ... The X-Files is a Peabody- and Emmy Award-winning science fiction television series created by Chris Carter, which first aired on September 10, 1993, and ended on May 19, 2002. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... This article contains episode information and plot summaries from the television show The X-Files. ...

In July 1991 Hawkins released his album Black Music for White People. The record features covers of two Tom Waits compositions; "Heart Attack and Vine" (which, later that year, was used in a European Levi's advertisement without Waits' permission, resulting in a lawsuit), and "Ice Cream Man" (which, contrary to popular belief, is a Waits original, and not a cover of the John Brim classic. Incidentally, Hawkins also covered the Waits tune "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard" for his album Somethin' Funny Goin' On.) This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. ... Levis is a brand of riveted denim jeans manufactured by Levi Strauss & Co. ... John Brim (1922-2003) may be best-known for writing and cutting the original Ice Cream Man that David Lee Roth and Van Halen covered on their first album. ...

Hawkins also toured with The Clash and Nick Cave during this period, and not only became a fixture of blues festivals, but appeared at many film festivals as well. The Clash were an English punk rock band who were active from 1976 to 1986. ... Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 2005. ...

His performance style earned him a loyal following - the use of a skull, a moving arm and - in his early days - a coffin added to his charisma.

Hawkins died on February 12, 2000 (reportedly due to complications after surgery on an obstructed bowel) leaving behind many children by many women; about 55 were known (or suspected) upon his death, and upon investigation, that number "soon became perhaps 75 offspring", according to this website. News of Hawkins' death was sadly overshadowed by the death of singer Oliver, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, and Dallas football coach Tom Landry, all of which occurred on the same day. February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Oliver! Oliver, see Oliver (William Oliver Swofford). ... Charles Monroe Schulz (November 26, 1922 - February 12, 2000) was a 20th-century American cartoonist best known for his Peanuts comic strip. ... Thomas Wade Landry (September 11, 1924 – February 12, 2000) was an American football player and coach. ...

Discography

Selected Singles

• 1956 I Put a Spell On You/Little Demon [OKeh 7072]
• 1957 You Made Me Love You/Darling, Please Forgive Me [OKeh 7084]
• 1957 Frenzy/Person to Person [OKeh 7087]
• 1958 Alligator Wine/There's Something Wrong With You [OKeh 7101]
• 1958 Armpit #6/The Past [Red Top 126]
• 1962 I Hear Voices/Just Don't Care [Enrica 1010]
• 1962 Ashes/Nitty Gritty - w/ Shoutin' Pat (Newborn) [Chancellor 1117]
• 1966 Poor Folks / Your Kind of Love [Providence 411]
• 1970 Do You Really Love Me/Constipation Blues [Philips 40645]
• 1973 Monkberry Moon Delight/Sweet Ginny [Queen Bee 1313]

I Put a Spell on You is a song written by Screamin Jay Hawkins, whose recording was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fames 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. ...

Albums

• 1958 At Home with Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Okeh/Epic) - other editions entitled Screamin' Jay Hawkins and I Put a Spell on You
• 1965 The Night and Day of Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Planet) - also entitled In the Night and Day of Screamin' Jay Hawkins
• 1969 What That Is! (Philips)
• 1970 Because Is in Your Mind (Armpitrubber) (Philips)
• 1972 Portrait of a Man and His Woman (Hotline) - also entitled I Put a Spell on You and Blues Shouter
• 1977 I Put a Spell on You (Versatile--recordings from 1966-76)
• 1979 Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Koala)
• 1979 Screamin' the Blues (Red Lightnin') - also entitled She Put the Wammee on Me
• 1983 Real Life (Zeta)
• 1984 Screamin' Jay Hawkins and The Fuzztones Live (Midnight Records) - live
• 1988 At Home with Jay in The Wee Wee Hours (Midnight Records) - live
• 1988 Live & Crazy (Blue Phoenix) - live
• 1990 The Art of Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Spivey)
• 1991 Black Music For White People (Bizarre/Straight Records/Planet Records)
• 1991 I Shake My Stick at You (Aim)
• 1993 Stone Crazy (Bizarre/Straight/Planet)
• 1994 Somethin' Funny Goin' On (Bizarre/Straight/Planet)
• 1993 Rated X (Sting S) - live
• 1998 At Last (Last Call)
• 1998 Live (Loudsprecher/Indigo) - live
• 1999 Live at the Olympia, Paris (Last Call) - live with one studio new song
• 2004 Live (Fremeaux & Associés) - live with two studio new songs

Multi-artist samplers and budget compilations

• 1962 Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Lillian Briggs (Coronet)
• 1963 A Night at Forbidden City (Sounds of Hawaii)

Films

Documentary on Screamin' Jay Hawkins

• Screamin' Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell On Me (Nicholas Triandafyllidis, 2001)[1]

As an actor

• American Hot Wax (As himself, 1978)
• Mystery Train (Jim Jarmusch, 1989)
• Perdita Durango, also known as Dance with the Devil (Álex de la Iglesia, 1997)

Trivia

The singer-songwriter John Darnielle named his band "The Mountain Goats" after the Screamin' Jay Hawkins song "Big Yellow Coat". The Mountain Goats is the name of prolific American singer-songwriter John Darnielles long-running musical project. ...

Hawkins believed that he had fathered over 57 children. [2] A search after his death discovered that the number may have been closer to 75. NPR article

External links

• Screamin' Jay Hawkins at the Internet Movie Database
• Detailed web site on Hawkins
• Reviews on Hawkins' records
• Screamin' Jay Hawkins at All Music Guide