Died On This Date (February 12, 2000) Screamin’ Jay Hawkins / Influential R&B Pioneer
themusicsover Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins
July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins was a somewhat outrageous blues and rock ‘n roll singer and musician whose biggest hit, “I Put a Spell On You,” and spooky stage theatrics influenced the likes of Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath. Even Bruce Springsteen has borrowed from Hawkins by coming out of a coffin to kick off his shows around Halloween. After serving in WWII where he was reportedly captured and tortured, Hawkins came home to the U.S. where he became a middleweight boxing champ, and later, a recording artist. In 1956, he released “I Put a Spell On You,” which went on to become a radio staple each year in October and has since been recorded or performed by the likes of Creedance Clearwater Revival, Ray Charles, Iggy Pop, Marylin Manson, and more recently, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward). In later years, Hawkins collaborated with Dread Zeppelin and the Fuzztones. He’s also shared the stage with the Clash, the Rolling Stones and Fats Domino. On February 12, 2000, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, age 70, died following surgery for an aneurysm. It has been estimated that he left behind as many as 75 children to many different mothers.
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