Screamin' Jay Hawkins was a visionary American musician known for his wildly theatrical performances and pioneering shock rock. Born on July 18, 1929, in Cleveland, Ohio, he started his music journey honing his craft in the 1950s, initially aiming for a career in opera before veering into the blues. It wasn't until 1956 that Hawkins would step into the spotlight with his most iconic single, "I Put a Spell on You." Initially envisioned as a blues ballad, the song morphed into the strange, guttural anthem that it's known for today, almost by accident, becoming a symbol for Hawkins's unique brand of performance.

Donning macabre costumes, emerging from coffins on stage, and employing props like skulls named "Henry," Screamin' Jay Hawkins embodied a blend of music and performance art that set the stage for future shock rockers like Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson. His music, often laden with themes of voodoo and the macabre, blended R&B with wild avant-garde vocals. Despite "I Put a Spell on You" being his biggest hit, Hawkins's influence extends beyond his biggest tracks, leaving an indelible impact on the theatrics of rock'n'roll and laying the groundwork for other genres to incorporate dramatic performance into their acts. Hawkins passed away on February 12, 2000, but his legacy as a pioneer of theatrical rock lives on through his music and the countless artists he has inspired.

Genres

R&b

Soul

Rock

Jazz

Blues

Avant-garde

Opera

Gothic Rock

Related Artists

Little Richard

Bo Diddley

Chuck Berry

Muddy Waters

Howlin' Wolf

Otis Redding

Ray Charles

Nina Simone

James Brown

Jerry Lee Lewis

John Lee Hooker

Big Joe Turner

Latest Release

I Hear Voices

Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Album - 12 Tracks - Released April 5, 2024