Shirley Scott (March 14, 1934 – March 10, 2002) was an American jazz organist. Her music was noted for its mixture of
bebop
Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, instrum ...
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
elements. She was known by the nickname "Queen of the Organ".
Life and career
Scott was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father operated a jazz club in the basement of the family home and her brother played Saxophone. At the age of eight, Scott began piano lessons. After enrolling at Philadelphia High School for Girls, where she was awarded a scholarship, Scott switched to trumpet and played in the all-city schools band.
She studied for bachelor and master's degrees at Cheyney University. Later in life Scott would return to the university as a teacher.
As a performer in the 1950s, she played the Hammond B-3 organ. Her recordings with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis included the hit "In the Kitchen". Influenced by gospel and blues, she played soul jazz in the 1960s with Stanley Turrentine, who became her husband during the same decade; the couple divorced in 1971.
Although organ trios declined in popularity during the 1970s, they resurged in the 1980s and she recorded again. In the 1990s, she recorded as pianist in a trio and performed at venues in Philadelphia.
Scott won an $8 million settlement in 2000 against American Home Products, the manufacturers of the diet drug fen-phen. She died of heart failure in 2002.'Organ queen' Shirley Scott dies". March 13, 2002. '' New Pittsburgh Courier''.
Discography
As leader
* 1958: ''
Great Scott!
"Great Scott!" is an interjection of surprise, amazement, or dismay. It is a distinctive but inoffensive exclamation, popular in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century, and now considered dated.
It originated as a minc ...
Like Cozy
''Like Cozy'' is an album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1960 and released on the Moodsville label.Payne, DCOZY Shirley Scott discographyaccessed July 2, 2012
Reception
The Allmusic review stated "The groove of the recordings heard on ''L ...
'' (Moodsville) - released 1962
* 1961: ''
Satin Doll
"Satin Doll" is a jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Written in 1953, the song has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, 101 Strings, Terry Callier, and Nancy Wilson. Its chord progressio ...
'' (Prestige) - released 1963
* 1958–61: '' Workin''' (Prestige) - released 1967
* 1960–61: ''
Stompin'
''Stompin'' is an album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1961 (with one track from 1960) and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label in 1967.Payne, DShirley Scott discographyaccessed June 29, 2012
Reception
The Allmusic review award ...
'' (Prestige) - released 1967
* 1961: '' Hip Soul'' (Prestige) - with Stanley Turrentine
* 1961: '' Blue Seven'' (Prestige) - with
Oliver Nelson
Oliver Edward Nelson (June 4, 1932 – October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 Impulse! album '' The Blues and the Abstract Truth'' (1961) is regarded as one of the most signifi ...
, Joe Newman; released 1966
* 1961: '' Hip Twist'' (Prestige) - with Stanley Turrentine
* 1961: '' Shirley Scott Plays Horace Silver'' (Prestige)
* 1962: '' Happy Talk'' (Prestige) - also released as ''Sweet Soul'' in 1965.
* 1963: ''
The Soul Is Willing
''The Soul Is Willing'' is a studio album by organist Shirley Scott recorded and released in 1963 for Prestige as PRLP 7267. It features famous saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. In 1995, the album was reissued along with ''Soul Shoutin on the sa ...
Drag 'em Out
''Drag 'em Out'' is an album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1963 and released on the Prestige label.Payne, DShirley Scott discographyaccessed July 2, 2012
Reception
The Allmusic site awarded the album 3 stars.For Members Only'' (
Impulse!
Impulse! Records (occasionally styled as "¡mpulse! Records" and "¡!") is an American jazz record company and label established by Creed Taylor in 1960. John Coltrane was among Impulse!'s earliest signings. Thanks to consistent sales and positiv ...
) - with Oliver Nelson
* 1963: '' Soul Shoutin''' (Prestige) - with Stanley Turrentine
* 1964: '' Travelin' Light'' (Prestige) - with Kenny Burrell
* 1958–64: '' Now's the Time'' (Prestige) - released 1967
* 1964: '' Blue Flames'' (Prestige) - with Stanley Turrentine
* 1964: ''
Great Scott!!
''Great Scott!!'' is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1964 for the Impulse! label.
'' (Impulse!) - with Oliver Nelson
* 1964: '' Everybody Loves a Lover'' (Impulse!) - with Stanley Turrentine
* 1964: '' Queen of the Organ'' ive(Impulse!) - with Stanley Turrentine
* 1965: ''
Latin Shadows
''Latin Shadows'' is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1965 for the Impulse! label.
'' (Impulse!) - with
Gary McFarland
Gary Robert McFarland (October 23, 1933 – November 3, 1971) was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist and vocalist. He recorded for the jazz imprints Verve and Impulse! Records during the 1960s. '' Down Beat magazine'' said he made "on ...
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
King Curtis
Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musicia ...
David "Fathead" Newman
David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an American jazz and Rhythm and blues, rhythm-and-blues saxophonist, who made numerous recordings as a session musician and leader, but is best known for his work as a sideman on ...
Mystical Lady
''Mystical Lady'' is an album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1971 and released on the Cadet label.Payne, DShirley Scott discographyaccessed July 4, 2012
'' (
Cadet
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
Superstition
A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs an ...
Oasis
In ecology, an oasis (; ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentMuse
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...
)
* 1991: ''
Great Scott!
"Great Scott!" is an interjection of surprise, amazement, or dismay. It is a distinctive but inoffensive exclamation, popular in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century, and now considered dated.
It originated as a minc ...
Candid
Candid may refer to:
* Candid (app), a mobile app for anonymous discussions
* Candid (organization), providing information on US nonprofit companies
* Candid Records, a record label
* Ilyushin Il-76, NATO reporting name ''Candid'', a Soviet aircraf ...
A Walkin' Thing
''A Walkin' Thing'' is the final studio album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1992 at Van Gelder Studio and released on the Candid Records, Candid label.Payne, DShirley Scott discographyaccessed July 6, 2012
Reception
The Allmusic site awar ...
Impulse!
Impulse! Records (occasionally styled as "¡mpulse! Records" and "¡!") is an American jazz record company and label established by Creed Taylor in 1960. John Coltrane was among Impulse!'s earliest signings. Thanks to consistent sales and positiv ...
)
* 1968: ''
Common Touch
''Common Touch'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine featuring Shirley Scott recorded for the Blue Note label in 1968 and performed by Turrentine with Shirley Scott, Jimmy Ponder, Bob Cranshaw and Leo Morris. The CD reissue added o ...
King
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ...
Buddy Tate
George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.
Biography
Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All ...
,
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first p ...
Jaws in Orbit
''Jaws in Orbit'' is an album by saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with organist Shirley Scott, recorded in 1959 for the Prestige label.Payne, DShirley Scott discographyaccessed July 9, 2012
Reception
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states ...
'' (Prestige)
* 1959: ''
Bacalao Bacalao (Spanish for cod) may refer to:
* Bacalao (cuisine), dried and salted cod
** Bacalhau, dried and salted cod in Portuguese cuisine
* Bacalao (phantom island), a phantom island depicted on several early 16th century Portuguese maps
* Baccal ...
Hear My Blues
''Hear My Blues'' (subtitled ''Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Showcases Al Smith'') is the debut album by jazz/blues vocalist Al Smith featuring saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis' working group with organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1959 and becoming t ...
'' (Bluesville)
References
External links
*
* Shirley Scott discography by Doug Payne discography at Jazzlists
* – last filmed public performance playing with Joey DeFrancesco at an organ summit in her honor in 1999 Shirley Scott obituary by ''
The Scotsman
''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its pa ...