Shirley Scott (March 14, 1934 – March 10, 2002)[1] was an African-American hard bop and soul-jazz organist. Best known for working with her husband, Stanley Turrentine, and with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, both saxophonists, Scott's soulful Hammond talent gained her the nickname "Queen of the Organ".[1]
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Scott was an admirer of Jimmy Smith, Jackie Davis (American soul jazz singer, organist and bandleader), and Bill Doggett (American jazz and rhythm and blues pianist and organist;[2][3] and played piano and trumpet before moving to the Hammond organ, her main instrument, though on occasion she still played piano. In the 1950s she became known for her work (1956–1959) with the saxophone player Eddie Davis, particularly on the song "In the Kitchen". She was married to Stanley Turrentine and played with him from 1960 to 1969. Later, she led her own group, mostly a trio. Saxophonist Harold Vick often played with her.
In the 1980s, she became a jazz educator and a member of Philadelphia's jazz community.[4]
Scott won an $8 million settlement in February 2000 against American Home Products, the manufacturers of the diet drug fen-phen.[4] She died of heart failure in 2002.[1]
Selected discography
Albums with an (*) feature Shirley Scott on piano.
As leader
- 1958: Great Scott! (Prestige)
- 1958: Scottie (Prestige)
- 1959: Scottie Plays the Duke (Prestige)
- 1959: Soul Searching (Prestige)
- 1958-60: Shirley's Sounds (Prestige) - released 1961
- 1958-60: The Shirley Scott Trio (Moodsville MVLP 5)
- 1960: Soul Sister (Prestige) - with Lem Winchester, released 1966
- 1960: Mucho, Mucho (Prestige) - with The Latin Jazz Quintet
- 1960: Like Cozy (Moodsville MV 19) - released 1962
- 1961: Satin Doll (Prestige) - released 1963
- 1958-61: Workin' (Prestige) - released 1967
- 1960-61: Stompin' (Prestige) - released 1967
- 1961: Hip Soul (Prestige) - with Stanley Turrentine
- 1961: Blue Seven (Prestige) - with Oliver Nelson, 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
- 1963: Drag 'em Out (Prestige)
- 1963: The Soul Is Willing (Prestige) - with Stanley Turrentine
- 1963: For Members Only (Impulse!) - 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!! (Impulse!) - with Oliver Nelson
- 1964: Everybody Loves a Lover (Impulse!) - with Stanley Turrentine
- 1964: Queen of the Organ [live] (Impulse!) - with Stanley Turrentine
- 1965: Latin Shadows (Impulse!) - with Gary McFarland
- 1966: On a Clear Day (Impulse!)
- 1966: Roll 'Em: Shirley Scott Plays the Big Bands (Impulse!) - with Oliver Nelson
- 1966: Soul Duo (Impulse!) - with Clark Terry
- 1967: Girl Talk (Impulse!)
- 1968: Soul Song (Atlantic) - with Stanley Turrentine
- 1969: Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes (Atlantic) - with King Curtis, Hank Crawford, David Newman
- 1970: Something (Atlantic)
- 1971: Mystical Lady (Cadet)
- 1972: Lean on Me (Cadet)
- 1973: Superstition (Cadet) - with Richard Evans
- 1974: One for Me (Stata East) - with Harold Vick, Billy Higgins
- 1978: The Great Live Sessions (ABC/Impulse!) [2LP] - with Stanley Turrentine, recorded 1964
- 1989: Oasis (Muse)
- 1991: Great Scott! (Muse)
- 1991: Blues Everywhere (Candid)*
- 1991: Skylark (Candid)*
- 1992: A Walkin' Thing (Candid) - with Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield
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With Stanley Turrentine
- 1961: Dearly Beloved (Blue Note)
- 1963: Never Let Me Go (Blue Note)
- 1963: A Chip Off the Old Block (Blue Note)
- 1964: Hustlin' (Blue Note)
- 1966: Let It Go (Impulse!)
- 1968: Common Touch (Blue Note)
As sidewoman
With Mildred Anderson
- 1960: Person to Person (Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Showcases Mildred Anderson) (Bluesville BV 1004) - with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
- 1956-57: Jazz With A Beat (King 566) - released 1958
- 1957: Count Basie Presents Eddie Davis Trio + Joe Newman (Roulette 52007) - with Count Basie, Joe Newman
- 1958: Eddie Davis Trio Featuring Shirley Scott, Organ (Roulette 52019)
- 1958: The Eddie Davis Trio Featuring Shirley Scott, Organ (Roost 2227)
- 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook, Vol. 1 (Prestige) - with Jerome Richardson, also released as In The Kitchen
- 1958: Jaws (Prestige)
- 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook, Vol. 2 (Prestige) - with Jerome Richardson, also released as The Rev
- 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook Volume 3 (Prestige) - with Jerome Richardson, released 1961
- 1958: Smokin' (Prestige) - released 1964
- 1959: Very Saxy (Prestige) - with Buddy Tate, Coleman Hawkins, Arnett Cobb
- 1959: Jaws in Orbit (Prestige) - with Steve Pulliam
- 1959: Bacalao (Prestige)
- 1960: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott (Moodsville MVLP 4)
- 1960: Misty (Moodsville MV 30) - released 1963
With Jimmy Forrest
- 1978: Heart Of The Forrest (Palo Alto; reissued on Muse in 1995)
With Al Grey
- 1977: Al Grey Jazz All Stars: Travelers Lounge Live (Travelers)* - with Jimmy Forrest
- 1979: Al Grey/Jimmy Forrest Quintet: Live At Rick's (Aviva)*
With Joe Newman
- 1958: Soft Swingin' Jazz (Coral)
With Al Smith
- 1959: Hear My Blues (Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Showcases Al Smith) (Bluesville BV 1001) - with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, also released as Blues Shout!
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References
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^ a b c Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed May 2010
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^ personal interview -- Dr. Linda F. Williams; ethnomusicologist
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^ )
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^ a b 'Organ queen' Shirley Scott dies". March 13, 2002. New Pittsburgh Courier.
External links
- All Music discography
- Shirley Scott discography by Doug Payne
- Shirley Scott discography at Jazzlists
- BBC Radio 2
- Shirley Scott's last filmed public performance on YouTube, playing with Joey DeFrancesco at an organ summit in her honor in 1999.
- The Scotsman Obituary, accessed July 4, 2012
