The originator of shock rock. Totally original and waaayyyyy ahead of his time.
@Coinmancer2 жыл бұрын
People don’t realize that this guy is the predecessor to stage musicians like Alice Cooper or Kiss and even more modern bands like Slipknot , Ghost or Rob Zombie
@Kylopod2 жыл бұрын
It may have also been the first metal scream.
@jtf2dan2 жыл бұрын
Born in Cleveland in 1929, put up for adoption at 18 months old, raised by Blackfoot Indians, he used fake ID and joined the Army in 1942 at the age of 13, saw combat, and became a formidable boxer while in the Army and Air Force, he became the Middleweight champion of Alaska in 1949. Honorably discharged in 1952. Joined a band in 1951 and recorded I Put A spell on You in 1956, and it sold over a million copies. The song has since been covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Nina Simone, Alan Price, The Animals, Them with Van Morrison, Arthur Brown, Bryan Ferry, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Tim Curry, Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, Nick Cave, Marilyn Manson, Mica Paris, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Joss Stone, Diamanda Galas, and Annie Lennox.
@pc5742 жыл бұрын
You are missing Angelina Jordan, arguably the best cover of this song even though she was 9 when she did it
@jtf2dan2 жыл бұрын
@@pc574 I am probably missing hundreds of people who covered it, but never said my list was complete. thanks for the extra info, will look it up.
@pc5742 жыл бұрын
@@jtf2dan Most definitely, there is no way to know everyone that covered the song, I just know her version is great. Especially for a 9 year old girl. She is pretty amazing though and Quincy Jones said she is the best child singer since Michael
@74artgrrl9 ай бұрын
I was about to post screamin jay’s history and I’m so glad you did it for all of us who appreciate him. Thank you.
@frankb57284 ай бұрын
@@jtf2dan It's a good list. I went through it to see if you had Diamanda in there. One of my favourites
@eddieevans66922 жыл бұрын
Hawkins is hamming it up here for the camera but the studio version of this song is fantastic, beginning with an outstanding sax intro.
@beaujac3112 жыл бұрын
Yes. They need to listen to this without the physical performance so that they can hear how great a voice he really has.
@JeffBishop_KB3QMT2 жыл бұрын
Once you get past the theatrics, this is pure blues. I absolutely loved this.
@elwray35062 жыл бұрын
In some way he reminds me of Charley Patton.
@MarcosElMalo22 жыл бұрын
Can you imagine if he sang Gospel? “I Put a Spell on Jesus”.
@aidan2849 Жыл бұрын
@@MarcosElMalo2 Satan already tried that
@vellaropedart91902 жыл бұрын
THE original shock-rocker! Before Arthur Brown. Before Alice Cooper. Can you imagine people seeing this back in the 50's? If parents of the 70's we're appalled by Alice Cooper,imagine how the 50's parents reacted to this! If you REALLY want to hear a disturbing version of this song,Diamanda Galas covered it for the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. That version is kind of unnerving.
@reignjosiah2 жыл бұрын
Love Arthur Brown too!
@vellaropedart91902 жыл бұрын
@@reignjosiah They definitely need to check out "Fire" by Arthur Brown! When people think of 60's singers with a high range they usually gravitate towards Ian Gillian of Deep Purple. But Arthur had that Judas Priest/Rob Halfords range. Even Bruce Dickinson hails Arthur as a huge influence on him.
@theriomrasputin82332 жыл бұрын
Diamanda is a fav of mine. Got a few of her recordings on vinyl.
@surlechapeau2 жыл бұрын
Screamin' Jay Hawkins was adopted at age 18 months and raised by Blackfoot Indians. One of the most interesting wikipedia entries you'll ever read!
@brettg2742 жыл бұрын
He did some pretty crazy stuff during the war, too.
@surlechapeau2 жыл бұрын
@@brettg274 starting with joining the Army at age 13 with a forged birth certificate!
@disconsolatemoose66372 жыл бұрын
Yes: "He joined the US Army with a forged birth certificate in 1942 (aged 13), and allegedly served in a combat role, with his fellow soldiers and higher-ups around him ignoring the fact he was substantially underage."
@RyanAcidhedzMurphy2 жыл бұрын
The story behind the song is kinda interesting too. Apparently the producer brought food and beer to the recording session, and they all got super drunk. That's how the song ended up so weird. A DJ that had added the song to his rotation, and got to be friendly with him, suggested he do the witch doctor act to help get more attention, and it worked.
@n_other_16042 жыл бұрын
Thaaaaaaank You!!! I love it... the beat is the most haunting one of all the versions & he sound like he really is putting a spell on you.
@vellaropedart91902 жыл бұрын
Have you heard the version by Diamanda Galas from the Natural Born Killers soundtrack?
@mwanush2 жыл бұрын
I got to see Screamin' Jay in the 90s - he did two sets: One in costume, and the other was in a suit. Fun!
@steveheck43482 жыл бұрын
I saw him around the same time. Amazing!
@marlonthemarvellous2 жыл бұрын
Brad is hilarious. He actually believes Screamin Jay is a witch doctor!!!! Love both of yous
@gvehar2 жыл бұрын
Screaming Jay played a voodoo priest in the 90s Tarantino-esque movie Perdita Durango, starring Javier Bardem and Rosie Perez. It’s great, and of course he’s got a song on the soundtrack.
@eastportland2 жыл бұрын
And a Hotel Agent in Jim Jarmusch's 1989 Mystery Train. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4XLoIN7a9lgetk
@dennisgschmidt61672 жыл бұрын
Imagine watching the original but different version from a different tv show at 3/4years old, on the floor in front of the tv and not knowing if what you're watching is real or understanding the idea of just a costume and a clip in nose piece, scared the hell out me. One of those things that sticks with you, so I'm almost 68 and it still gives me the creeps remembering that. For a long time I've since appreciated it.
@michaelryan24332 жыл бұрын
Screaming Jay !!! He put on a great Halloween show back in the day. Magnificent performer.
@Sammylu-greenbeatsred2 жыл бұрын
I love what CCR did with this song! I can see that John Fogerty picked up a lot of his style from these original artists and made it his own thing. As far as I remember the first time I heard this song it was the CCR version so to me that's the one I love, just like CCR's version of "Susie Q".
@marcillioficino46632 жыл бұрын
CCR knocks it out of the park.
@eternallife97862 жыл бұрын
Hard disagreal Dale Hawkins absolutely obliterates the original Susie q song the drums so much more
@Sammylu-greenbeatsred2 жыл бұрын
@@eternallife9786 I hear you! You must admit that music really evolved from 1957 to 1968. We had bands like The Doors and Cream. For me CCR hit the spot.
@eternallife97862 жыл бұрын
@@Sammylu-greenbeatsred they introduced that groove and that is a signature blues rock groove what they did with it but that early heavy punk rock sound just incredible the earliest formation of the swamp sound
@eternallife97862 жыл бұрын
@@Sammylu-greenbeatsred you familiar with the pre CCR material from the Fogarty Brother's? If not you should look that up!
@babaoriley12 жыл бұрын
Screamin' Jay was ahead of his time. Thanks for reacting to this.
@Transmodulator2 жыл бұрын
Thank you really much for reacting to this version, this guy was absolutly genius, i know it's quite shocking and strange, but he really puts his soul in that song, make you believe he really puts a spell on you, awesome.
@jcoltrane89762 жыл бұрын
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins is ground zero for Captain Beefheart, Alice Cooper, Glam, Kiss, Shock Rock, and all things in between. A true pioneer. Ooga booga!
@mkmstillstackin2 жыл бұрын
Wow, totally awesome you guys did this one! Always a shocker for anyone hearing it for the first time. I love this one for its authenticity.
@roddydiaz10902 жыл бұрын
Its a performance. This dude was soooo ahead of his time and killed it.
@TheNeonRabbit2 жыл бұрын
You have to picture it in the context of what he designed it for, as one of the acts in a Rock and Roll show. He would have been directing that crazy gaze at individual people in the audience, doing what he could to freak out the prom queen. It was very much an interactive act with the audience, then playing off their reactions. If you just stick him in a TV studio with no people it's like watching the Rocky Horror picture show at home on video. The act NEEDS the audience participation or it's gonna fall flat.
@steveheck43482 жыл бұрын
I saw SJH perform in a club. He was amazing performer. I will never forget it.
@diogenesagogo2 жыл бұрын
When he bothers to sing he's actually got a fantastic voice, His cover of heart Attack & Vine is superb: "Liar, liar, with your drawers on fire ..."
@adgato752 жыл бұрын
He was a classically trained singer , both opera and regular voice.
@A2Z832 жыл бұрын
his version of Its Only Make Believe is also a favorite as someone who was wanting to hear more belting
@tonymcfeisty24782 жыл бұрын
agree about heart Attack & Vine, his cover of Whistlin' past the graveyard is great too
@steveheck43482 жыл бұрын
I was lucky enough to see Screaming Jay Hawkins. He was amazing. Great performer! A legend!
@HS-ol4zl2 жыл бұрын
Now go and react to 9yrs old Angelina Jordans cover of this song, You will be blown away like never before... believe me!
@zkeletonz0012 жыл бұрын
Agreed
@wolfganghendrich21732 жыл бұрын
Indeed she gives you goosebumps, guaranteed!
@A2Z832 жыл бұрын
she sounds like if you made a chipmunks version of the original
@zkeletonz0012 жыл бұрын
@@A2Z83 You obviously haven't actually watched it, because no one who has would think she sounds like the chipmunks.
@pietersbart2 жыл бұрын
@@zkeletonz001 Agreed, he just goes by the 9 year old part. For anyone interested, this is Angelina’s version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKipnaJ5hb2tedU
@johnpublicprofile62612 жыл бұрын
NOT "NORTH GRENADA" What you saw was "From the North GRANADA", Granada being a UK regional TV broadcasting company. It seems that a lot of early USA artists got more TV air time in the UK and more of the recordings survived.
@ericanderson88862 жыл бұрын
Couple of favorites from Screaming Jay: "Little Demon" and "Constipation Blues" lol
@zonedout59982 жыл бұрын
That’s just Screaming freaking Jay Hawkins for you! Just him being him!
@bearhall49192 жыл бұрын
"I believe him". Probably one of the best things I've heard in a while. He is also playing this in the Movie Harlem Nights with Forrest Whittaker Robin Givens and Danny Glover. Fun fact: the dinning hall they are in is actually an old beer garden from the mid to late 1800s, and is phenomenally haunted.
@johnstjohn66582 жыл бұрын
IKR? Brad looks scared. 👹👹👹
@Transmodulator2 жыл бұрын
He also plays a small part in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train, a night clerk of a run-down hotel, it's worth watching.
@bbylockdemdoors91072 жыл бұрын
A Rage in Harlem
@baronderochemont85562 жыл бұрын
The expression on Brad’s face tho! 😂
@Big_Al_632 жыл бұрын
guys, thank you for doing this, it's awesome for you to check out all this music for us, Lex is hilarious. You are both great! Do more Band-Maid. All of their videos are great. They are now my favorite contemporary band!
@r.awilliams98152 жыл бұрын
Screamin' Jay was the original 'Dress Up Funny And Act Weird' rock and roll act and has inspired several generations of rockers. It's a great gig if you can keep a straight face.
@klaptongroovemaster2 жыл бұрын
The broader showbiz term was a "Novelty Act." Spike Jones (they've never heard him), Alice Cooper, KISS, Weird Al, Gwar...
@vrvaughn2 жыл бұрын
@@klaptongroovemaster Alice Cooper was more than a novelty act… the theatrical rock they used to present their music didn’t distract from how great the original band was. First time I saw them was June of 1971 at The Fillmore East.. they weren’t even the headliner. They were the 2nd band of the night and they tore the house down… The main act came out and nobody cared…
@klaptongroovemaster2 жыл бұрын
@@vrvaughn Novelty Act is NOT an insult. Go watch Spike Jones' live acts. Dude was a MONSTER. A musical badass. That also wore goofy suits as part of his act.
@lllexoduslll2 жыл бұрын
Also check out "Frenzy", "Constipation Blues", and "I Hear Voices".
@jeannie10992 жыл бұрын
Brad…omg I feel you with this one. 🤣🤣🤣 the look on ur face…priceless 🤣🤣🤣
@baronderochemont85562 жыл бұрын
Pure 24kt gold! This fella is good!
@b.samarripa18332 ай бұрын
He's one of those artist that once you've heard you never forget about him.
@thomaskempton52402 жыл бұрын
You should check out Angeline Jordan cover of this song.
@twenty3enigma2 жыл бұрын
Blues legend here. This was his biggest hit -- the only one that crossed over and was played on rock stations. CCR's version brought this song out of obscurity, and gave Screamin' Jay Hawkins a career.
@laurabrevitz39442 жыл бұрын
That's Screamin' Jay for you. "You're going to call me evil and demonic? OK." 😂
@williawilkes10362 жыл бұрын
Love to Arthur & beautiful Vince rip.,.,
@SEANBANOG42 жыл бұрын
Genius.....Heart attack and Vine and Deep Purple Haze are brilliant!!
@TheGathumpus2 жыл бұрын
You need to watch Angelina Jordan's version. Its virtually a homage to this one and very well arranged.
@hichambarrak29022 жыл бұрын
Wanna hear & watch the best version of this song performed by a 9-year-old girl? Look for Angelina Jordan, the best vocal singer you will ever listen to. Today she's 16 & 1/2 and is already a star.
@winterknight41762 жыл бұрын
Guess what. They have already reacted to Angelina's version kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYOlqH6on7eUnM0
@steveheck43482 жыл бұрын
Sorry nobody tops SJH! 👺 If you saw him in concert you would be amazed. Great performer! A a true legend!
@A2Z832 жыл бұрын
i looked her up people kept saying the original version was bad but everyone is praising this kids version. she sounds like shes just immitating jay hawkins voice. i dont get it how thats better.
@steveheck43482 жыл бұрын
@@A2Z83 SJH recorded version is much different. This is what he did in live performances which is total theater but still fantastic. The little girl is no match for SJH. I saw him live and he was getting up in age and he was still an amazing singer / performer. SJH was a legend!
@VinVonVoom12 күн бұрын
@@A2Z83 Yeah she does a great impression for her age but it's definitely not beating the original.
@unclefido64842 жыл бұрын
Learn something new everyday. I've never heard of him. 🤘
@donnybirney65812 жыл бұрын
granada was a tv channel from the north of england
@Oske.images2 жыл бұрын
Beat me to it.. 👍
@ThePresidentialTouch2 жыл бұрын
When he goes off in his acapella solo bit he breaks the mumbo jumbo with the words "pea soup". Not sure why. Maybe a bet.
@mimikurtz21622 жыл бұрын
This is a one-off theatrical performance for Granada which was a commercial TV station in UK where he was very popular. He normally sat at a piano (without fancy dress and props) and performed mainly r&r with some blues and jazz. He was a great entertainer, exciting performer, sometimes eccentric and always unpredictable.
@johnwood95042 жыл бұрын
I don't know his status during this performance, but in the studio version he was drunk out of his mind.
@9791mij2 жыл бұрын
You should check out the audio version because quite often the versions are very different from each other
@kj3201752 жыл бұрын
Whistling Past the Graveyard- screamin Kay Hawkins is a killer track that is amazing
@jamesdamiano88942 жыл бұрын
I dig that you went back and watched this after the CCR reaction. You could probably envision parents not letting their children listen to this after seeing this performance-lol.
@AzaleaLala2 жыл бұрын
I just loved the looks on your faces while watching this video. xD Now you should react to a nine year old Angelina Jordan's cover of "I Put a Spell on You". She pretty much channels Screaming Jay Hawkins. It's amazing.
@that44rdv4rk2 жыл бұрын
Without Screamin' Jay, there would never have been an Alice Cooper, or a Rob Zombie.
@EiriUesugiKun2 жыл бұрын
I remember reading that when this, well the original studio version, was recorded he was so drunk he had no idea what he had sung. But when they listened it back the next day (or week, or .. whenever), he really liked it and thus we have this ... different kind of great song. :D
@kaiseralexander49682 жыл бұрын
I love this man's powerful belting away .
@MrJeddYoung2 жыл бұрын
Funny reaction. I really don't know anything about Screaming Jay Hawkins but i'm enjoying reading the other comments - i'm always amazed how knowledgeable some people are about rather obscure musicians - it's crowdsourcing at its best.
@scottfrench41392 жыл бұрын
Never thought of Screaming Jay Hawkins as obscure.
@stevedahlberg86802 жыл бұрын
Lol lol. I remember your CCR reaction and a lot of people commented on watching the original. It's really hard to appreciate why so many people thought he was so cool. It's just so subtle and it's a different time with different ideas of what is hip and funny and avant-garde and that kind of thing. But definitely he had at least a cult following if not more. He was actually a really talented blues singer but he kind of grew into this role over time. He's also got some really funny ideas kind of old school funny I guess. You should check out just for humor his Constipation Blues, laugh. It's bizarre and hilarious. I thought also that he was just great in that really cool movie called Mystery Train that he appeared in along with Joe Strummer of The Clash.
@helgar7912 жыл бұрын
Funny, social commentary, weird, scary, and exciting. The CCR version (and I saw both of these guys perform this song in their primes) and indeed no other version compares to this at all. Not even close.
@rynothealbinoryno2 жыл бұрын
his song portrait of a man is fantastic. it’s a slow blues song that he sings the heck out of, with tons of emotion.
@jimblack21712 жыл бұрын
Angelina Jordan covered that one too.
@panicandfreakout- Жыл бұрын
His initial goal was to become an opera singer (Hawkins cited Paul Robeson as his musical idol in interviews),but when his initial ambitions failed, he began his career as a conventional blues singer and pianist. Other influences included Mario Lanza, Enrico Caruso, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Wynonie Harris, Nellie Lutcher, Roy Brown, Jimmy Witherspoon, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Roy Milton, Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins and H-Bomb Ferguson.
@torquersmalls26802 жыл бұрын
For me...this illustrates Creedence Clearwater Revival's ability to lose just enough in translation to make Swamp Magic available to the general public.....and how close to the edge they really were being Born On The Bayou....which must have been only about three aligator blocks away from Jays Way. All round excellent Muti.
@marysebo47652 жыл бұрын
Im 48yrs old an have never heard this version...it was lol i cant find words lol it was odd lol
@bluetopguitar11042 жыл бұрын
Before Alice Cooper, before Black Sabbath. Screaming Jay was the first shock rocker.
@9791mij2 жыл бұрын
One of the first shock rockers
@chanaplotke62182 жыл бұрын
An extremely talented man, I think he should have been singing opera. He has a stunning voice which most of the time you won't hear but every once in awhile he lets it out. He wrote this song which CCR made famous. He is performing here, 100%
@blackenreed14252 жыл бұрын
"From the North, Granada presents..." was about the TV company Granada based in Manchester, England.
@MovieGuy6662 жыл бұрын
Screaming Jay Hawkin is awesome. He wrote a song about not being able to take a dump... Constipation Blues.
@KEvronista2 жыл бұрын
jay has a bit part in jim jarmusch's _mystery train._ he's a gas! KEvron
@Jihavoh7772 жыл бұрын
He is an incredible performer. My mind was blown the first time I saw him live on KZbin lol
@not_in_the_know2 жыл бұрын
Brilliant. I only know his album alligator wine. It's amazing.
@davewhitmore19582 жыл бұрын
Love that you guys will listen to the original after reacting to the cover
@capstan50g2 жыл бұрын
Now that you've heard this, you MUST check out Angelina Jordan's black and white video cover of it. It's based on this version.
@GoWestYoungMan2 жыл бұрын
If you do another cover of this I'd recommend the one by Angelina Jordan. It's the best one imo. The kicker is that she was only 9 years old when she did it.
@tekatomon2 жыл бұрын
Portrait of a man by screaming Jay Hawkins is probably his most melodic and powerful/heartbreaking song
@lonfowler98432 жыл бұрын
"I believe him." Perfect!
@andycolb32962 жыл бұрын
You should see Angelina Jordan's cover of this song.You will not believe your eyes or ears!
@christophersessions33752 жыл бұрын
My mom had the original 45s for this and "Frenzy". She would play it Halloween before we went out trick or treating.
@galvinklatt52732 жыл бұрын
I 💜 Screamin Jay! Thank you for reacting!
@dragon-lu3mk2 жыл бұрын
always gotta have this on ur halloween playlist ... hahaha
@MarkHughson13 күн бұрын
Not bad for a 9 year old. Take a fifties classic song by Screaming Jay Hawkins, arrange the music and then sing like a 40 year old jazz singer. This girl is a gift to us all. Welcome to Angelina's world.
@johnr.82752 жыл бұрын
"Screamin' Jay felt right at home on Halloween. He'd come out onstage in a coffin, carry a flamin' skull, and arrive at a gig in a hearse. How 'bout THAT?" - Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour #26, "Halloween."
@hays90082 жыл бұрын
Wonderful just wonderful.....remember how old this is.
@joebarriga-994510 ай бұрын
the jan was so craazzy.. he wrote a classic, covered by so many.. its all good.. raw,intense,strong, awesome ..he was one mean mother phukker..
@jeffjefferson73842 жыл бұрын
He had 57 kids. There's a whole documentary about it. There's also a few great covers of this song - the Marilyn Manson one especially.
@OaktownPirate5102 жыл бұрын
“I put a child in you... Because you’re 𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙴“
@vellaropedart91902 жыл бұрын
Really,I heard the number was actually quite higher than that! I remember reading an article about it and at the time they were supposedly still finding more.
@neildonley96262 жыл бұрын
When he was serious, the man could really sing.
@RFWieder2 жыл бұрын
Now you have to check out "The Fire Song" by Arthur Brown, make sure you watch the version with the Prologue!!!
@retiredfirelt5862 жыл бұрын
I just watched it again and watched your eyes... it was awesome.
@Matrizzt2 жыл бұрын
I'm soooo happy to see my suggestion reacted to :D
@Bandit77TA2 жыл бұрын
The first "shock rocker" Can you imagine seeing this in 1956!
@ericmanning73482 жыл бұрын
Toldja y’all was gonna trip out on Screamin’ Jay… Hahaha!
@MyRoom_is_old2 жыл бұрын
The crazy world of Arthur Brown and their song Fire is another strange performance video like this.
@Fettman892 жыл бұрын
" He was witchin' it first" LOL
@oslafoirausuebutuoy54572 жыл бұрын
You should check out more of his stuff, he has some awesome songs, a very original style and a great voice.
@RÅNÇIÐ2 жыл бұрын
Playing a crazy Voodoo man in the mid 50s must have scared the hell out of all the white housewifes.
@jamiesweitzer84692 жыл бұрын
Brad looked spooked at first!
@krabkrabby Жыл бұрын
What a great voice and incredible performance!! This guy is impressive. Beautiful instrumental tho. Disney should have definitely taken inspiration from him to create Facilier!! That was so cool!!
@TheOneAndOnlySpookySteve2 жыл бұрын
Since you’ve listened to the CCR version and this version by the original performer, I now recommend a version by a lesser known group but equally as interesting in its interpretation. It’s by C. A. Quintet. It’s a great haunting version. They’re pretty obscure, mostly listened to by collectors. In fact, I recommend the entirety of their only full length album release, Trip Thru Hell. It’s great music.
@hockemeyer12 жыл бұрын
Angelina Jordan's cover is superb
@burnettsalmon85342 жыл бұрын
😂😂😂😂😂was a bush doctor before he get in to music 🎶 😂😂😂😂😂
@juanjbm45612 жыл бұрын
Screaming Jay tried to be an opera singer but at that time he was discriminated for being black. He had an incredible range and powerful voice. The same happened to Roy Hamilton, one of Elvis idols. Roy Hamilton "Don't let go" a great song I recommend to react
@johnelrick89452 жыл бұрын
Granada was/is a British television company, based in the north of England.
@paulqueripel34932 жыл бұрын
Your comment about North Grenada at 2.05, that's actually the Granada TV sign from Manchester England. It's an clip from one of their shows.
@bryanforis18392 жыл бұрын
Great music he one first punks they did punk time for singles and movies great music