Robert William Scott (January 29, 1937 – November 5, 1990) was a prominent American jazz pianist, singer, composer, arranger, teacher and record producer from the 1950s through the late '80s.
Scott was born in Mount Pleasant, New York, and was a child prodigy. He became a pianist, vibraphonist, and singer, and could also play the accordion, cello, clarinet, and double bass. He studied
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under Edvard Moritz at the La Follette School of Music at the age of eight, and was working professionally at 11.
In 1952 he began touring with Louis Prima, and also toured and performed with Gene Krupa, Lester Young, and Tony Scott in the 1950's. When Bobby was 16 he started recording for several record labels like, Bethlehem, Savoy, Atlantic and ABC, and in 1956 had a US Top 20 hit with "Chain Gang" (not the Sam Cooke version),written by Sol Quasha and Hank Yakus. It peaked att #13 and sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
In the late 50s, Scott worked at the swinging Cafe Bohemia in Greenwich Village, New York City. He also appeared at the Great South Bay Jazz Festival in 1958 and the New Haven Festival of Arts in 1959. Both of these festivals are still bringing to their stages new and upcoming musical talents twenty-four years later. Never satisfied with his musical endeavours, Bobby returned to study with Edvard Moritz. He then became a teacher of theory and harmony.
Bobby left performing for composing at the dawn of the 60s and stayed away for many years before returning with more tasty music. He was a good pianist, effective vocalist and played the vibraphone to perfection.In 1960, Bobby Scott wrote the title theme for Shelagh Delaney's play "A Taste Of Honey", and the song was made famous by pianist Martin Denny. Being transformed, the instrumental tune was given lyrics for Tony Bennett to sing by Ric Marlow. The Beatles were so taken by the combination, they included "A Taste of Honey" on their first UK album. Bobby's big hit won a Grammy in 1962. Then, 3 years later, Herb Alpert took the song to even greater heights winning three more Grammys with their US Top 10 hit.
At the same time that Bobby was working with Dick Haymes, he was also a pianist, arranger and record producer for Mercury Records. It was during this time that he started a very close working relationship with Quincy Jones. Bobby played piano on several of Jones' Mercury albums. They remained great friends and musical cohorts for the rest of Bobby stunted life.By 1964 Bobby had recorded 15 LPS in total for Bethlehem, Verve, Atlantic and Mercury. All but one did very respectable business in the record shops. The albums showed the talents of Bobby Scott, both as a musician and a wonderful singer. As a producer, Scott supervised sessions for several important artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Darin, Harry Belafonte and Sarah Vaughan.
Also, at the same time Scott's compositions were turning up in the movies. Joe Butler sang "Where Are You Going?" in the film "Joe"; and "Slaves" was performed by Dionne Warwick in the movie by the same name. Scott also composed incidental music for the play "Dinny And The Witches", and several pieces for harp and string
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trios, including "The Giacometti Variations", so-called because it was partly used as a radio advertisement for the Giacometti Exhibition held at the New York Museum of Modern Art. He also composed the music for the film "Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow?" during this time.
trios, including "The Giacometti Variations", so-called because it was partly used as a radio advertisement for the Giacometti Exhibition held at the New York Museum of Modern Art. He also composed the music for the film "Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow?" during this time.During the 1980s he composed music for classical guitar, harp, and piano. He also arranged for jazz and easy listening musicians such as Les and Larry Elgart. Twenty-three years after he had met Quincy Jones, in 1986, Bobby was asked to accompanied Tania Vega and John Lee Hooker on Jones's soundtrack music for the film The Color Purple. With all of the respect Bobby had for Quincy, he was very honored to be part of such a monumental film.
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His final album, the Nat King Cole tribute For Sentimental Reasons, was recorded in 1989 and released in 1990, the same year that Scott died of lung cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital. He was 53 years old.
(Edited mainly from a Dick Haymes Society Newsletter by Susan Calters)