Fact #135
When:
Short story:
Jalacy Hawkins is born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He will find fame in the 1950s as demented r'n'b vocalist Screamin' Jay Hawkins.Full article:
Screamin' Jay Hawkins : I came in this world black, naked and ugly. And no matter how much I accumulate here, it's a short journey. I will go out of this world black, naked and ugly. So I enjoy life. And I like to see when people are happy... And if I can, since I am in this business, I like to make people forget some of their problems. I like to make 'em laugh.
At first, even before l thought in terms of show business, it was Paul Robeson. The baritone voice. Yes, you see l had - in high school - l had an opportunity to study opera, and opera is what l have been wanting to do all of my life. But at the same time, being poor and being black, you want to make some money quick. So opera don't get on the charts that often, whereupon when l started messing about with bands like Tiny Grimes, Lynn Hope, Fats Domino, Lionel Hampton, James Moody and guys like this, l wound up... well l started out s a piano player - no singing - then l wound up singing and l couldn't sing that well until l went to a place called Nitro, West Virginia, and this was in 1950. And there was a big, big, huge fat lady... Just allow your mind to roam free. When l say fat... Glutton! Beast! O-bese! The woman made the average elephant look like a pencil, that's how fat she was!
And she was so happy. She was downing Black And White scotch and Jack Daniels at the same time, and she kept looking at me and she said, "Scream baby, scream, Jay!". And I kept saying to myself, you wanted a name, there it is - Screamin' Jay Hawkins! And that's how that name was born, before I got with any big name bands.
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At first, even before l thought in terms of show business, it was Paul Robeson. The baritone voice. Yes, you see l had - in high school - l had an opportunity to study opera, and opera is what l have been wanting to do all of my life. But at the same time, being poor and being black, you want to make some money quick. So opera don't get on the charts that often, whereupon when l started messing about with bands like Tiny Grimes, Lynn Hope, Fats Domino, Lionel Hampton, James Moody and guys like this, l wound up... well l started out s a piano player - no singing - then l wound up singing and l couldn't sing that well until l went to a place called Nitro, West Virginia, and this was in 1950. And there was a big, big, huge fat lady... Just allow your mind to roam free. When l say fat... Glutton! Beast! O-bese! The woman made the average elephant look like a pencil, that's how fat she was!
And she was so happy. She was downing Black And White scotch and Jack Daniels at the same time, and she kept looking at me and she said, "Scream baby, scream, Jay!". And I kept saying to myself, you wanted a name, there it is - Screamin' Jay Hawkins! And that's how that name was born, before I got with any big name bands.