FREDDIE SCOTT

When Freddie Scott released his first single on the Joy Records label in early 1961 he’d already been making records since 1956 and had had several songs published and recorded by Ricky Nelson and others. Around the time he signed with Joy he also signed as a songwriter with Aldon Music owned by Don Kirshner and Al Nevins and partnered Helen Miller on songs recorded by Paul Anka, Billy Bland, Tommy Hunt and former lead singer of The Platters, Tony Williams among others. Scott, born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1933 had just two releases on Joy after which he turned up on Colpix with the Goffin & King song ‘Hey Girl’ which made the Top 10 pop and r & b charts in Billboard magazine in 1963. Later, while signed to Bert Berns’ Shout label he released several more singles, most notable ‘Are You Lonesome For Me Baby’ and ‘Just Like a Flower’. When the hits dried up he continued as a songwriter, even landing an acting role in the 1969 film ‘Stiletto’. His final releases were the album ‘Brand New Man’ on which he was joined by Isaac Hayes, Felix Cavaliere, Graham Parker and John Waite in 2000 and contributing the song ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ to the Van Morrison tribute album ‘Vanthology’ in 2003. Scott died, aged 74, in 2007.