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Scott Walker

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel, was an American-British singer, composer and producer. He was born in 1943 in Hamilton, Ohio, and grew up in several states and later in California. As a child he appeared in Broadway musicals and for a short time he was seen as a teen idol. In Los Angeles he became interested in the Cool Jazz of Stan Kenton and Bill Evans, in European films by Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini and in the Beat Generation. As a teenager he worked as a bass guitarist in studios.

Music and breakthrough

With John Walker and Gary Walker he formed the Walker Brothers. They moved to London in 1965, where the group had hits in the mid-1960s, including Make It Easy on Yourself and The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore, both number 1 in the United Kingdom. After the group split in 1967 he began a solo career with Scott. Strongly influenced by Jacques Brel, on Scott 2, Scott 3 and Scott 4 he made increasingly challenging baroque pop, with grand orchestrations and dark, literary lyrics. Scott 2 reached number one in the United Kingdom.

Influence

When 'Til the Band Comes In and Scott 4 failed commercially, records of covers followed that he later disowned. In the 1980s only Climate of Hunter appeared. From Tilt in 1995 his music became dark and avant-garde, via The Drift and Bish Bosch to Soused, a collaboration with the drone metal band Sunn O))). He died in 2019. His recordings from the 1960s were highly valued in the British underground. The BBC called him one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in rock history.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore by the Walker Brothers and notice Scott Walker's baritone above the heavy, almost cinematic orchestral accompaniment.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsChanson