How am I 64 years old and only now learning about this brilliant man? Why was he not as famous as Little Richard or Alice Cooper? Why have I been lied to my entire life? Where was he hiding?
I read about Screamin' Jay Hawkins when I was about 18, in a magazine. The article was something about rock star's outrageous live performance mishaps or something. Apparently he'd got trapped in his coffin when he was performing. When they finally got him out, he'd shit himself. A couple of years later I came across one of his CDs in a bargain bin at a store, for like four dollars, and bought it out of curiosity. It was incredible, I've been a fan ever since
I just wish he felt validated in his performance as a performance, not as a circus act. His shows mean so much more these days than he got to see at the time. RIP Screamin Jay.
I heard he got stuck in the coffin but i never heard he was locked in there. I hope its true. Probably made the show even better when he finally got out.
He answers that question his 99 interview with Top Bab. He liked most covers, thought CCR's cover was great, but his favourite was Nina Simone's cover. However in Simone's autobiography, also called I Put A Spell on You, she credits Alan Price with writing the original version of the song and claims Screamin Jay covered it instead, which Jay didn't appreciate in the slightest
Hell naw JAY i wish i could get into that trans you get into during the I PUT A SPELL ON YOU song!! Listen to it every single time i lay my woman down.. forreal man id love you to be at my party!!!!
My flesh-body is white ,but the color of my skin isn’t me. The music of Mr. Hawkins has seen me through many challenges in this life. Some will say he didn’t know Voodoo/Vodoun. He might have even denied it ,but he did know the knowledge ,but it’s such a sacred knowledge that it’s better to not try and explain it to people who aren’t really interested in it. He was a master of theatrics and please know that many things ,MANY THINGS, can work through the power of superb theatrics. I doubt ,just like with Jimi Hendrix, that there will ever be anyone close to being like him in this world ever again. He was awake. People who are crazy are often the most awake people that you will ever find in life. R.I.P. Mr. Screamin Jay Hawkins.💜
All this time I'd thought he was wild and a bit unhinged in his real life, when it seems he was not... maybe because that was his public image in the press hype.
$2000, and in the 1950s. So roughly about $24k in today's money. He could essentially buy anything he wanted just by getting inside of an enclosed bed.
I read about Screamin' Jay Hawkins when I was about 18, in a magazine. The article was something about rock star's outrageous live performance mishaps or something. Apparently he'd got trapped in his coffin when he was performing. When they finally got him out, he'd shit himself. A couple of years later I came across one of his CDs in a bargain bin at a store, for like four dollars, and bought it out of curiosity. It was incredible, I've been a fan ever since
