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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSCOTT, Jack(b Jack Scafone Jr, 24 April '36) Rock'n'roll/country singer, songwriter. Father was a guitarist, gave Jack a guitar at age eight. Moved to a Detroit suburb at ten, heard Hank Williams and Roy Acuff on the radio; later performed himself on radio and formed band the Southern Drifters. Signed with ABC-Paramount '57 for two flop singles; Joe Carlton left ABC to form his own Carlton label and took Jack with him; Jack's song about an imprisoned friend, 'Leroy', was a rocker backed by a funereal ballad, 'My True Love'; his deep baritone laced with humour and excellent recording quality took each side to the top 20 '58, the ballad making no. 3; next release backed rocker 'Geraldine' (just made Hot 100) with mournful 'With Your Love' (top 30). Several more hits '59 incl. 'Goodbye Baby' (top ten), 'The Way I Walk' (top 40); joined short-lived Top Rank label and had seven Hot 100 entries '60 incl. 'Burning Bridges' (no. 3) and 'What In The World's Come Over You' (no. 5); moved to Capitol '61 and brought total to 19 Hot 100 hits in less than three and a half years. On RCA subsidiary Groove '63 he veered towards country music as chart interest in pure rock'n'roll was waning. He also recorded with ABC (again), Jubilee, GRT, Dot and his own Ponie label (on which his greatest hits LP was issued); visited Europe '77 in all-star rock'n'roll package that incl. Buddy Knox, Charlie Feathers, Warren Smith. His hits remain listenable today, on The Way I Walk on Rollercoaster (Carlton tracks '58--60), and on Bear Family's Scott On Groove and complete five-CD set Classic Scott, incl. everything. |