Hawkins was a true early Rock & Roll Pioneer. He wrote and recorded "I Put A Spell On You" way back in 1957, the same year I was born. He was the first theatrical shock rocker, so far ahead of his time that many radio stations didn't play him and many early rock venues didn't give him a shot, figuring he'd scare the white folks to death with his voodoo stage act. An act is all it really was. He played it for laughs and Lord, was he funny! I got my first taste of him in 1970 on an Detroit FM station with a totally open format. They played "Feast Of T… read more
Hawkins was a true early Rock & Roll Pioneer. He wrote and recorded "I Put A Spell On You" way back in 1957, the same year I was born. … read more
Hawkins was a true early Rock & Roll Pioneer. He wrote and recorded "I Put A Spell On You" way back in 1957, the same year I was born. He was the first theatrical shock roc… read more
Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Jalacy Hawkins, July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000) was an American musician, singer, and actor, famed for his powerful, operatic vocal delivery and wildly theatrical performances of songs such as "I Put a Spell on You" and "Frenzy". Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Hawkins studied classical piano as a child and learned guitar in his twenties. His initial goal was to become an opera singer (Hawkins has cited Paul Robeson as his musical idol in interviews), but when his initial ambitions failed he began his career as a conventional b… read more
Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Jalacy Hawkins, July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000) was an American musician, singer, and actor, famed for his powerful, operatic vocal delivery and wildly theat… read more
Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Jalacy Hawkins, July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000) was an American musician, singer, and actor, famed for his powerful, operatic vocal delivery and wildly theatrical performances of songs such as "I Pu… read more