Scatman John - Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Name: John Paul Larkin
• Stage Name: Scatman John
• Born: March 13, 1942, in El Monte, California, U.S.
• Died: December 3, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Genres: Eurodance, pop, jazz, scat rap, dance
• Occupations: Singer, songwriter, pianist
• Instruments: Vocals, piano
• Years Active: 1981–1999

Early Life

• Born in El Monte, California.
• Developed a severe stutter from a young age, contributing to a challenging childhood.
• Began learning piano at age 12 and was introduced to scat singing at 14.
• Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
• Used piano as a means of expression due to speech difficulties.

Career Beginnings

• First studio album performance in 1981 on Sam Phipps' Animal Sounds.
• Released self-titled album John Larkin in 1986.

Rise to Fame

• Moved to Berlin in 1990, where he found a supportive jazz culture.
• Inspired to sing after receiving a standing ovation in Berlin.
• Combined scat singing with dance music and hip hop influences.
• Released hit single "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)".

Major Success

• "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" became a worldwide hit, selling over six million records.
• Followed by "Scatman's World", another successful single.
• Album Scatman's World (1995) sold over a million copies in Japan.

Later Career

• Released album Everybody Jam! in 1996.
• Achieved major success in Japan with this album.
• Final album Take Your Time released in 1999 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Personal Life and Legacy

• Established Scatland Foundation in 1996 to support stuttering awareness.
• Received Annie Glenn Award for service to the stuttering community.
• Inducted posthumously to the National Stuttering Association Hall of Fame.
• Passed away from lung cancer in 1999. Ashes scattered at sea off Malibu.

Posthumous Recognition

• Books and Media:
  • Graphic novel Who's The Scatman? published in 2022.
  • Biopic announced in March 2023.
  • Authorized biography set for release in late 2025/early 2026.

Discography

1. John Larkin (1986)
2. Scatman's World (1995)
3. Everybody Jam! (1996)
4. Take Your Time (1999)
5. Listen to the Scatman (2001; posthumous)

Conclusion

• Scatman John's fusion of scat singing with modern music genres left a lasting impact on both music and stuttering communities.
• His story of overcoming personal challenges has continued to inspire many through various posthumous releases and adaptations.