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Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1929-2000)

Voodoo-Inspired Blues

Jalacy Hawkins, best known as Screamin' Jay Hawkins was an African-American singer. Famed for his wildly theatrical performances of songs like "I Put a Spell on You" and "Constipation Blues" Screamin' Jay Hawkins sometimes used macabre props onstage, making him perhaps the first shock rocker. Some sources believe that Screamin' Jay 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 regularly cited Paul Robeson as his idol. When his initial ambitions failed, he began his career as a conventional blues singer and pianist. 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. Screamin' Jay Hawkins was an avid and formidable boxer: in 1949, he was the middleweight boxing champion of Alaska. In 1951, he joined guitarist Tiny Grimes for a while, and recorded a few songs with him. When Screamin' Jay Hawkins became a solo performer, he often performed in a very stylish wardrobe, featuring leopard skins, red leather and wild hats. Screamin' Jay Hawkins had several further hits, including "Constipation Blues", "Orange Colored Sky", and "Feast of the Mau Mau". Nothing he released, however, had the monumental success of "I Put a Spell on You". 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 of his film "Stranger Than Paradise" (1983) and then Screamin' Jay Hawkins himself as a hotel night clerk in his Mystery Train. This led to a few other movie performances. His 1957 single "Frenzy" 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". It was also covered by the band Batmobile. 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" and "Ice Cream Man"". Hawkins also covered the Waits tune "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard" for his album Somethin' Funny Goin'. Screamin' Jay 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. 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. Screamin' Jay Hawkins died on February 12, 2000 after surgery to treat an aneurysm. He left behind many children by many women; about 55 were known. (quoted from wikipedia.org)

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