Scatman John, real name John Paul Larkin, poet, jazz musician, was born on March 13, 1942. He died in Los Angeles on December 3, 1999. As a result of the psychological trauma received in early childhood, John suffers from a stutter, and in order to get the opportunity for self-expression, at the age of 12, the boy begins to learn to play the piano. At the same time listen to compositions. Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald . As the musician himself later admits, “playing the piano gives him the
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Scatman John, real name John Paul Larkin, poet, jazz musician, was born on March 13, 1942. He died in Los Angeles on December 3, 1999.
As a result of the psychological trauma received in early childhood, John suffers from a stutter, and in order to get the opportunity for self-expression, at the age of 12, the boy begins to learn to play the piano. At the same time listen to compositions.
Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald . As the musician himself later admits, “playing the piano gives him the opportunity to speak.”
Thirty-year-old musician becomes a truly professional pianist, playing jazz and blues. During the 70s and 80s of the last century, John Larkin worked in many jazz clubs in Los Angeles, his name became famous and popular thanks to the release of the album John Larkin. Working with the public, constant tension and creative researches become the reason for the musician’s addiction to alcohol, and soon to drugs. However, after the death of his friend, musician Farrell Joe, and largely thanks to his wife Judy Larkin, John decides to overcome his habits, which he eventually manages.
In 1990, the Larkins moved to Germany, in particular to Berlin, where the musician continues to perform in jazz clubs, bars and cruise ships. Having succumbed to the persuasion of his agent Manfred Zaringer, John decides to add vocals to his music. The first-of-its-kind original "On the Sunny Side of the Street" is very well received by listeners. John Larkin changed his name to John Scatman.
John Scatman became a world-famous jazz star in 1995 at the age of 52. The song "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" is still popular due to its original sound. Soon, the song "Scatman's World" appears, which reaches number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. On the wave of popularity, the musician releases his debut eponymous album "Scatman's World", which falls into the TOP-10 of many countries - Switzerland, Norway, Germany and Finland.
Soon the musician goes to concerts in Asia and Europe. In 1996, the next album “Everybody Jam!” appears, its popularity in Japan becomes simply phenomenal: toys similar to Scatman are sold in stores, the compositions “Pripri Scat” and “Su Su Su Super Kirei” are used as musical accompaniment to advertising cosmetics.
The death of his beloved wife Judy Scatman in 1997 is a real blow for the musician. And the next year, doctors give the musician a terrible diagnosis - lung cancer - and prescribe intensive treatment. However, John continues to work, releases the CD "Take Your Time", but the disease takes over, and in December 1999, John Scatman died.
Discography
1995 Scatman's World
1996 - Everybody Jam!
1999 - Take Your Time
2001 - Listen to the Scatman
2002 The Best of Scatman John