Scott Jared Simon (December 9, 1948 – September 5, 2024), also known as Screamin' Scott Simon, was an American pianist known for playing in

Sha Na Na Sha Na Na was an American rock and roll and doo-wop revival group formed in 1969. The group performed a song-and-dance repertoire based on 1950s hit songs that both revived and parodied the music and the New York City street culture of the 1 ...

from April 1970 until the band's disbandment in December 2022.

Early life and education

Simon was born in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

on December 9, 1948. He graduated from

Southwest High School Southwest High School, Southwestern High School, or South Western High School may refer to: Southwest * Southwest High School (El Centro, California) * Southwest Senior High School, San Diego, California *Southwest Miami Senior High School, Miami, ...

in Kansas City, in 1966, and graduated from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

with a B.A. in 1970. In college, he played piano and sang with the Royal Pythons, a band that included Chris Donald on guitar (who went on to join him in Sha Na Na in 1970), Jack Hartford on drums, and Richard Yospin on bass.

Sha Na Na

Simon joined Sha Na Na in April 1970, under the name "Screamin' Scott Simon". He wrote numerous songs that have been recorded by the band and others over the years. Sha Na Na, who are known for covering 1950s

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

and

doo-wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, ...

, appeared as a 1950s version of themselves in the 1978 film version of '' Grease.'' In the film, he and Louis St. Louis collaborated on the song "

Sandy Sandy may refer to: People and fictional characters *Sandy (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or nickname * Sandy (surname), a list of people * Sandy (Iranian music band), Iranian singer, comp ...

", performed by

John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting in television before transitioning into a leading man in films. List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta, His accolades include a Primetime Em ...

. Simon continued to tour with Sha Na Na, along with founding member

Jocko Marcellino John Fair "Jocko" Marcellino (born May 12, 1950) is an American musician best known as one of the founders of the rock and roll group Sha Na Na, where he performed drums and vocals. He performed with Sha Na Na at the original Woodstock Festival ...

, until December 5, 2022, when it was announced that Sha Na Na would no longer be touring. During his time in Sha Na Na, he played on every album, with the exception of their first album, which was released in 1969.

Personal life and death

Simon and his first wife, Sarina Beges, were married from 1971 until divorcing in 1988; they had two daughters. In 2000, he married Deborah Richetta. Simon died of sinus cancer in

Ojai, California Ojai ( ; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''’Awhaỳ'') is a city in Ventura County, California. Located in the Ojai Valley, it is northwest of Los Angeles and east of Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara. The valley is part of the east– ...

, on September 5, 2024, at the age of 75.

Discography

* ''Sha Na Na'' (1971) * ''The Night Is Still Young'' (1972) * ''The Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll'' (1973) * ''From the Streets of New York'' (live) (1973) * ''Hot Sox'' (1974) * ''Sha Na Now'' (1975) * ''Rock 'n Roll Graffiti – Live in Japan'' (1975) * ''Rockin' in the 1980s'' (1980) * ''Silly Songs'' (1981) * ''34th & Vine'' (1990) * ''Live in Concert'' (1996) * ''Rock 'n Roll Dance Party'' (1996) * ''Then He Kissed Me'' (1999) * ''Live in Japan'' (2000) * ''Rockin' Christmas'' (2002) * ''One More Saturday Night'' (2006)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, Screamin' Scott 1948 births 2024 deaths American rock pianists American male pianists Columbia College (New York) alumni Sha Na Na members 20th-century American pianists 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Deaths from cancer in California