Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Jalacy Hawkins, best known as Screamin' Jay Hawkins (born in Cleveland, Ohio July 18, 1929 - February 12, 2000) was an African American singer famed for his wildly theatrical performances of songs like "I Put a Spell on You" and "Constipation Blues".

Legacy

Though Hawkins' recording career lasted some forty years, his legacy rests primarily on "I Put A Spell On You", which has earned its place as one of early rock and roll's most memorable songs and has been covered dozens of times, by performers such as Audience, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Them, Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry, Nina Simone, Marilyn Manson, and many others. Most of the covers treat the song seriously; few attempt to duplicate Hawkins's bravura performance.

Related Topics:
Rock and roll - Covered - Audience - Creedence Clearwater Revival - Them - Nick Cave - Bryan Ferry - Nina Simone - Marilyn Manson

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In films, it has been performed by Bette Midler in Disney's Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus and by Diamanda Galás, whose version is featured in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers, and Marilyn Manson's version, featured in David Lynch's Lost Highway.

Related Topics:
Bette Midler - Disney's - Halloween - Diamanda Galás - Oliver Stone - Natural Born Killers - Marilyn Manson - David Lynch - Lost Highway

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The intro from "I Put A Spell On You" was sampled for Notorious BIG's "Kick In The Door".

Related Topics:
Sampled - Notorious BIG

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The Hawkins version has even become a standard accompaniment for ice skaters, including Michelle Kwan, Alexei Urmanov and the team of Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow.

Related Topics:
Ice skaters - Michelle Kwan - Alexei Urmanov - Elizabeth Punsalan - Jerod Swallow

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The song has also figured in countless radio and television advertisements.

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