Screamin' Jay Hawkins on Arsenio Hall with Emo Philips

[@rjc7289]

This guy was shocking audiences long before anybody heard of Alice Cooper, Kiss, WASP, Twisted Sister, Marilyn Manson, and God knows who else. He got the ball rolling on shock rock, and I can't thank him enough for that.

[@kyleshiflet7932]

Me neither

[@ignorecorporatenews]

right after him , or maybe simultaneously, In England, there was Screaming Lord Sutch

[@d820m]

Hawkins was Sutch' inspiration

[@tvc380]

Saying his name in the same sentence as the legend Alice Cooper is an insult.

[@d820m]

@@tvc380 c'mon man...Alice Cooper himself would tell you he was inspired by Hawkins

[@mnakadai9106]

What a character. A "blues horror opera" singer lol

[@kb2x172]

One crazy mix

[@badabing9143]

You hit the nail right on the head

[@GnappyAssassin]

This is goth as hell

[@joshuajohnson2216]

Lol

[@samanthastring8299]

He was the ultimate showman because he lived and breathed performance art. An absolute wizard on stage. None better. RIP Jay. You were one in a million.

[@missxshow2390]

+Samantha String so am I.

[@GeneTrujillo]

One million is probably not rare enough for this.

[@fjk1138]

That coffin entrance kicks ass. He's a maniac with that vocal style too. Love it!

[@wallacegarrett3537]

I met him once, back in the day. We hung out after a show in Harlem with an associate of mine, Glenn Slade, who had a radio show at Pace Univ. He had Introduced me to him, and we hug out and had drinks. He was a fun person, and real down to earth, a little crazy, but in a good fun way. He made me laugh a lot. Met Ruth Brown also. I had a radio show at LIU College; WLIU. The station used Brooklyn Technical high school's antenna. My show was called 'The Gary Wallace's Experience'. (Saturdays: fr:om 1:00pm-5:00pm)

[@nodiggity9472]

Class.

[@ouchalargerock]

that sounds wild I would have loved to meet him

[@dystopian2153]

Very cool. What an experience

[@LazyIRanch]

Wow, you met two of my favorite performers! I love Ruth Brown and wish more people knew about her these days. She was a major star in the 1950s, but nowadays she seems almost forgotten by most, except fans of Broadway. In 1989 she won the well-deserved Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She seems like she had a great sense of humor and would be delightful to have a conversation with. My dad went to work as a radio engineer at KVET in Austin Texas after serving in WWII. KVET was completely owned and operated by veterans, and I think they're still in operation. As the engineer, he was tasked with creating sound effects for the live radio performances back before recording on tape. I wish we had thought to record Dad talking about his experiences! Some of his stories were pretty funny, like the Sunday morning that only my dad and the DJ were manning the station. The DJ would get records that had a preacher's sermon pre-recorded, put the disk on and run across the street for coffee. One Sunday morning while the DJ was getting coffee, my dad realized there was a problem with the record, but the sound booth was locked, so he ran to get the DJ, telling him he has to stop that record, NOW! The record was skipping, and broadcasting only two words to the listeners of Austin Texas that morning; "Jesus Christ!" over and over...😂 Musicians would stop by and perform live on air, and my dad became friends with a New Orleans jazz pianist who was his favorite guest at the station, "Professor Longhair". He talked about him a lot, and that he was the funniest guy he'd ever met. I always wished I could hear this "Professor" whose music my dad loved, and now I can! I was thrilled to find his music here on KZbin. I see why he was my dad's favorite guest at the station.

[@MrJeezus]

He was everything that "shock rock" should be about. Creepy, funny, groovy, fearless and most of all, great freakin' tunes.

[@tylerbroveak2559]

MrJeezus he’s who invented it! Arthur Brown saw him perform and placed the wheels in motion for artists like Alice Cooper

[@meganwynn372]

Emo Rocks!

[@darrensiegel6651]

woulda loved to have seen a show with him and Alice Cooper. That might've been fun

[@boognishd]

@@meganwynn372 watch Gentlemen Broncos he plays the antagonist and it’s one of my favorite movies

[@Lanceawright]

Give Arsenio his respect; He kept things uncomfortably interesting. Damn.

[@nurimajeed8595]

I miss Arsenio not many late night folks taking chances

[@judykeller7474]

True. He gave the band Living color there first mainstream exposure back when the idea of a Heavy Metal band comprised of entirely black members was unheard of!

[@paulsharp7857]

ARSENIO HALL IS THE #1 TALK SHOW EVER...

[@LazyIRanch]

I loved his show! Arsenio was on during the same era as David Letterman. I liked and watched both, but with Arsenio it was more of a surprise who he would have on his show. I love that he gave artists like Screamin' Jay the time and freedom to perform their songs the way they wanted. Typically, music artist get 2-3 minutes to perform, max, but Arsenio wisely knew the fans are gonna want to experience this performance the way Mr. Hawkins intended!

[@LazyIRanch]

@@judykeller7474 You're right! That's where I first saw Living Colour perform "Cult of Personality", and I was blown away by their talent and that Grammy-winning song that became an anthem for a generation. That song is even more meaningful today! "...You gave me fortune, you gave me fame You gave me power in your God's name I'm every person you need to be Oh, I'm the cult of personality..."

[@mysnellvilleblog]

He put his cigarette in the skull's mouth...lol

[@mwilliams1220]

The skull's name was Henry.

[@Thetrueking-gr2ss]

The crazy sonavabitch did it!!!!!

[@gmac2558]

That was the best part of this video

[@chrislesher8119]

Screamin Jay Hawkins is ladies and gentlemen the creator and founder of shock rock since the 1950s (1956 circa to be exact). He paved the way for such notable mentions like Alice Cooper, KISS, Metallica, Jimi Hendrix, The Who (as they both smashed guitars on stage as well KISS) , Rob Zombie (White Zombie), GWAR, Ozzy Osborne ( Black Sabbath) etc. Such amazing talent!

[@spencerwelchii573]

4:33 "I'm gonna do a Michel Jackson over here" f'n' brill.

[@lessevdoolbretsim]

We need more Screamin' Jays in the world.

[@dojoswitzer]

This young lady might just help turn a new page in music history, partly with her rendition of Hawkins’ masterful song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKipnaJ5hb2tedU

[@purpleprinc3]

WTF! He is insane! Lol sparks up mid-song!!! Raw, pure, unadulterated talent. That was awesome, thanks for uploading this.

[@jetsmith6281]

ABSOLUTE GENIUS!!!!!!! THIS MAN IS AWESOME!!!!!

[@Crickett-J]

Love love love me some Screaming Jay. This my dears IS music! Not reggae but very low and slow. Rest now Jay the spell still works.....

[@NAJAI1]

He scared the bejeezus out of me but that is nothing but talent and art.

[@fka_ny7792]

Ch Ki I love that word... bejeezus

[@IanJones942]

I could put this song on repeat for a week and still not tire of it. Amazing song.

[@RosaGamboa-u1f]

I was fortunate ro see him perform twice before he died. He was an incredible performer. My favorite song is constipation blues. RIP

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

'We're going to do a Michael Jackson over here' Classic!

[@markondyrodirondello4109]

A real gentleman.....thank you for having me....what a Sir...

[@Purplemilk_689]

Genius at work 🐐

[@paulroberts5677]

What a great voice and musicianship

[@xamel9528]

What a beautiful human, brings a tear to the eyeball.

[@JoseGregorioMathinsonSilva]

Que bueno arrechicimo agradable tu programa Venezuela los ama 🌎🇻🇪☮️

[@johnhancock8556]

I just can't stop laughing when I look at Jay's face 😂😆😂😆

[@doomsdayZen]

Fantastic. God, how I wish I could sing like him.

[@timbodatrucker4507]

When he said I put a spell on you.. I couldn’t stop watching..great performer

[@arincee1640]

The best that ever was! RIP here on earth and rattle the rafters in heaven!

[@armellelecomte8527]

Thanks to you to exist i mn't sad watching this

[@davewalker3561]

Great performer and the movie Mystery Train was actually pretty good. He plays the desk clerk at the hotel.

[@johndudley3992]

He actually comes across that he just loves what he is doing ! Awesome 👍

[@StormLaker]

So much under appreciated influence here. The grandfather of metal right here.

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!! Ladies and gentlemen boys and girls!! Children of all ages!! Everyone I present to you the histories world's greatest video to ever be on the internet

[@bobsyeruncle4841]

WOW what a performance the man was a star

[@JerryTremaine]

I supported Screaming Jay many moons ago...a big scary man! I shook his hand ...my hand disappeared! but once he relaxed around you he was quite the opp of his image! lovely, funny guy..one in a million...R.IP. sir...

[@solidkingcobra]

I heard of this song, but I didn't know the performer was like this. It's fuckn dope!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thomasrainbow]

Hawkins had originally intended to record "I Put a Spell on You" as "a refined love song, a blues ballad". However, the producer (Arnold Maxin) "brought in ribs and chicken and got everybody drunk, and we came out with this weird version ... I don't even remember making the record. Before, I was just a normal blues singer.

[@rickway461]

He has an amazing voice

[@kwez211]

This is so romantic in so many ways

[@michaelslater1261]

The man vocal range was incredible.

[@memeexclusive]

Absolutely hilarious, he always put me in the mind of a heterosexual Lil Richard.

[@TrillBill]

+memeexclusive Shut up,child!

[@memeexclusive]

Little Richard lmfao

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

+memeexclusive Little Richard is straight and is married to a female. The flamboyance thing is all part of his personality. Not that being gay would be a bad thing it's just funny how people seem to think just because you're flamboyant it means you're gay. I know lots of macho gay dudes and plenty of feminine straight guys.

[@savannahpaige3670]

Act hes been openly gay since before fame, he just likes girls more... He claimes it is all satanic including his music.. I mean lit, says he used the power of Satan

[@sonikku956]

Savannah Paige You can't be gay and like women more. There's a term for people who like both men and women, you know.

[@borinqueena1]

i love him so much.

[@rriv3649]

Gothic 👑 king. Great performer

[@garonneyvanine7129]

MAGNIFIQUE UNIQUE FORMIDABLE J'ADORE MERCI MONSIEUR....

[@Wizhka]

Verlo y oírlo es un gran placer!

[@Iris156]

This man, his voice, amazing.. powerful, modern opera..

[@scottbaxendale323]

He fathered something like 50 kids while touring the world.

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

It's confirmed that he fathered 32 children

[@scottbaxendale323]

@@eivindgjengstjohansen9625 close enough.

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

@@scottbaxendale323 could be more but not confirmed on paper even tho he said he had 57

[@chocomalk]

Love this guy.

[@birdiehall7817]

This is unbelievable

[@paulmarkwell4663]

Put the crack pipe down What the freaking hell just rose out of that damn box This a new old Halloween classic

[@ultramaximusreviews]

A true entertainer

[@keeturbo]

That voice though ....

[@dropdeadstudios131]

Okay, I take it back. Emo Phillips is a genius. I was an ignorant mammal. I searched his standup on youtube and became a huge fan. He's a brilliant, dark comic. Check him out.

[@findyourfit0116]

Not Given very good comedian! For sure!

[@karinjeffrey7981]

Crazy great.

[@newhoodie18]

What a performance!!!😁😱

[@HannibalOrJustRex]

Emo introducing Hawkins. What a wonderfully weird thing to happen

[@stevesnodgrass7434]

This dude was a genius absolutely

[@slowpenguin1]

He would have been a hoot in Rocky Horror Picture Show

[@corethabonner4543]

His skin is beautiful! In 2023

[@chainsawteddybear]

that last note hits hard as fuck!!!

[@jellyjujube]

Legend

[@christinedidur364]

I'm with Emo, "Beautiful". so does anyone else think this Emo is the inspiration for the Sesame Street character, "Emo"? so cool to see us, when we were young. (I wasn't there. I was a big fan of Screaming Jay, for years he was my daddy o, at least in my mind. For some Bohunk Canadian Prairie girl, he was so cool.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Christ. Emo Phillips AND SJH on same camera?!? Arsenio was/is a genius.

[@timcorkern]

Fucking EPIC! Was just introduced to this from a metal head friend!!

[@jamesderdall3389]

Unusual but his talent as a vocalist is exceptional.

[@manuelesparza1081]

I was at a LaVern Baker show at the Cinegrill and Jay showed up.

[@KhalilDelion007]

Bro was really talented.. Alice Smith’s version of this song is haunting…

[@tanker1960]

The Vincent Price of music, to me.

[@fawltyborstals]

SJH is a legend!

[@frostedhead]

This is 50s spook music at its best!

[@rickybization3381]

Follia pura, incredibile!

[@theend92]

Awesome 😎

[@ghw1985]

This show has is so charming lol

[@erikaedwards7447]

I can hear the Opera with that scream

[@DICKIEFLICKSoCOM]

Damn... so good.

[@sardaracampa1733]

The actor Leon, is destined to play Jay!

[@stevesmith2629]

This is entertainment!

[@echoscope4278]

The greatest!😂

[@Mastakilla1881]

A mastermind! The definition of unique and Unreachable. Michael Jackson, James brown and so on you can copy. He took a classic legendary song and upgraded it into genius way more entertaining version. Copy that! Plus, his screaming is better than most music heard before.

[@carolmcgahan5113]

Jesus he can sing.

[@drainmonkeys385]

It’s a great song actually

[@tanya45096]

This songs still spooks the crap out of me but I can't stop watching!

[@DLL8252]

Married 6 times and had over 33 kids, he put a spell on somebody😂😂😂😂

[@geothon]

Everyone he met :)

[@ronjamroz6432]

Love him, all I'm gonna say, "i can go to the bank!!!

[@johntoobad4705]

Imagine all the good god fearing people of the 50s, they must've shat themselves each time he went on stage. :D

[@MKL614]

John Toobad yea that's probably why it was banned in most radio stations

[@ianmichalski7997]

John Toobad And Jay would laugh all the way to the bank.

[@hornetbrown]

I sure hope they did. LOL!!

[@kreed1004]

me too@@hornetbrown

[@thuglifejesus2673]

Probably thought he was really possessed

[@keeturbo]

He was a genius and legend ahead of his time.Has never been imitated or duplicated,one original.

[@dreamquesttv]

Yes, that Emo Phillips truly was in a class by himself.

[@joshuashafer2642]

+Frank Sadat lmao

[@kalifsonbigboy9539]

keeturbo H E L L O. I put a SPELL on you....i ain't lyin

[@tvc380]

Who would duplicate that untalented mess?

[@MrWatchowtnow]

Actually he was and is exactly like every single other Hollywood celeb popstar rocker. A Satanist pushing propaganda for the elite , after the deal with the devil.

[@americasmaker]

he looked exactly the way he did in the 50s and 60s, either black dont crack or he really was a witch doctor

[@DeeDeeM88]

I was thinking the same thing, lol.

[@Boddah.]

He was 61

[@earthyboheme2719]

Dick JonesOCP Agreed! He had such beautiful skin!

[@brentenhargrove4320]

Both haha

[@naturalone5149]

Dick JonesOCP ...Both

[@gamehead91]

Holy crap does he possess the fountain of youth!?

[@ansurysayer1227]

gamehead91 Right? He is supposedly 60(?) there but died 10years later. Looked damn good for his age.

[@Bronco541]

gamehead91 I think it's pretty clear from this performance that he possesses something. Or is possessed by something...

[@lukeb1751]

It's all those cigarettes

[@sticky170]

Drinking the blood of young women.

[@brandonwoodson9348]

Black people for the most part age gracefully, different from other people.

[@lancecorporal9894]

It is true he fathered over 50 children. His babies were easy to spot in the nursery. They screamed much louder in a deeper voice and would then laugh.

[@sarahirwin8912]

Yes. In fact, one of his great granddaughters is essentially our non-official daughter. She tells us stories. He was an interesting person! The story behind this song is rather sad, though. He struggled with mental health issues, and this song is actually about himself. It wasn't written about a woman at all.

[@LazyIRanch]

@@sarahirwin8912 He would have to be a fascinating person! That's awesome that you are so close to his great-granddaughter and she has memories of him. Having suffered with severe depression all my life, and as the mother of a disabled son due to his schizophrenia, I think maybe that's why we both are drawn to his music and his style. This man took madness to a fine art, and I love him for that! My son tells me that if he's ever healthy enough and he finds a woman as quirky as him, this song is the one to which he wants to walk down the aisle with his bride. I told him I'll find the best Screamin' Jay impersonator I can find to make that happen!👹💀

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

It's confirmed that he had 32 children maybe more

[@meganwynn372]

you're just sayin that cause they put a spell on you.

[@lancecorporal9894]

@@meganwynn372 - Clever!

[@Tonithenightowl]

Do you know he was also a classically trained pianist ?

[@alexxarson4075]

Tonithenightowl also an opera singer

[@ignorecorporatenews]

also a brain surgeon

[@adintyaannasaidhiakharisma5202]

Also a badass witch

[@cjbotts]

Faron Furplow good. Nobody likes that polka shit

[@leahcimolrac1477]

TheEternalNow Also an astrophysicist

[@mattclark3113]

You can hear a truly fantastic voice in between those screams

[@danbyl4582]

even the screams are under control. he's got an astounding voice box, there's an operatic quality.

[@zorkwork3841]

I'm with ya there..great performer

[@itoaraziofficial5048]

...and in them.

[@ArthurDentt-l6j]

Wrong bud. The screams are the most fantastic part!!!!

[@TeenagersLovEme]

Lmfao oh god dam wanted to get a cigaret we almost had a Michael Jackson over here

[@fka_ny7792]

nicole frod yeah I didn't get that please explain

[@scofield117]

jazz ivette Michael Jackson's hair caught fire on set while filming a Pepsi commercial in the early eighties

[@Nesty9]

I busted out laughin when he said that

[@Amalekites]

Cigarette*

[@judykeller7474]

Jay was actually a good vocalist. There are places here where he sounds positively operatic! Emo Phillips was so underrated too.

[@jessejacques4298]

He was an opera singer at one point

[@dojoswitzer]

This rendition demonstrates what a masterpiece Hawkins wrote: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKipnaJ5hb2tedU

[@IanJones942]

Emo is still out there!

[@theo-jamesmoulton2000]

No. he was a great vocalist.

[@sallyire1]

Jay was a magnificent singer.

[@AZlance66]

I am 31 and a year ago discovered this genius, shame I never got to see him live. He belongs up there with Cash and Elvis!

[@cameronlopez3273]

Lance Wahl higher

[@carcamangris]

And Little Richard

[@LazyIRanch]

@@carcamangris The first time I saw a photo of Screamin' Jay, I thought it _was_ Little Richard at first! They were both very handsome men (IMO) and true pioneers of Rock and Roll who have many imitators, few equals!

[@saippua0]

_"And if the people want it, they have to get it."_ That should be every artist's and musician's motto nowadays, Hawkins was a genius

[@middleamerican9022]

He wasn't a genius. You must have low standards for intelligence if you believe this.

[@3ver4fter53]

This is a very good entertainment motto. But I believe that an artist can decide to be more than an entertainer and not depend on the audience will.

[@Stacey-ki4qc]

Need a movie done about him. Awesome.. 👑✨🌚🎤⚰️🖤🎶🎶🎹🔥

[@carltonmcgee8878]

He put a spell on everyone in that audience. Peace.

[@Blue-Moon-2022]

This man invented the screaming heard in heavy metal songs.

[@blueyedboymrdeath]

None of those heavy metal dudes have half his vocal power. What a voice!

[@nigel900]

What?!

[@maureenwagg5305]

@@blueyedboymrdeath Sorry bud, bud he can't sing like Rob Halford or Darby Mills of The Headpins. Check out Pain Killer by Judas Priest and then tell me he can outsing Rob Halford..in key.

[@blueyedboymrdeath]

@@maureenwagg5305 LOL. No comparison. I checked it out. I wouldn't even call that "singing." Whereas Mr. Hawkings actually possessed an operatic tenor.

[@kewkabe]

Little Richard was doing it before this guy.

[@myinnapeaceministries7545]

Screamin' Jay Hawkins & Emo Philips was one weird episode of Arsenio.

[@TurkeyLurkey00]

Damn.. What a masterful entertainer.

[@gagacrazy10]

I'm pissed off that I only just discovered this freak!

[@hobobluesclown7337]

gagacrazy10 same, only two years later!

[@thebassman5820]

He's been performing all over the globe since the late 50's

[@Kwanglebeh]

@@thebassman5820 Saw him in Melbourne AU 1984

[@jaydoolies6973]

Me right now

[@Brixtaan]

Me too, I’m 50 and rate myself as a connoisseur of off-track, left-field, off-key,I don’t know the term but weird stuff musicly. And here I am made much richer after hearing this in 2021 ffs. Thanks 6Music

[@yianpap6093]

I saw this guy in what was apparently his last or penultimate concert a couple of months before he died. He was indeed "screaming" and didn't look like he was about to leave us any time soon, I thought the walls would fall and the window panes would shatter, I couldn't believe how powerful his voice was. It was a small place, a one of a kind experience....

[@MrGregOtis]

+Yian Pap - It's unfortunate singers like Screaming Jay Hawkins and Gene Chandler (Duke of Earl) get associated with their biggest hit, and then they play up to that hit with the mindset and costumes. When I go to a concert, I am there for the music and not the theatrics. When you saw him (Hawkins), was he like this video the entire concert?

[@ianmichalski7997]

MrGregOtis I don't know any performer who wouldn't want to give the audience some kind of show along with the music. That's what a PERFORMER is. The shit some people say.

[@ablejack3]

Screaming Jay Hawkins did not really want to give the audience this kind of show. It was the audience that demanded it. He was a classically trained pianist singer and would've preferred to earn his way featuring the breadth and timbre of his gift as an opera singer. But he had to make money and the US at the time was not ready to support his career in opera. So he took the offer of $300 to crawl out of a coffin and became a novelty live act. Yet as he told Arsenio in this clip, he's "crazy for doing it, but he can go to the bank".