Freddie Scott (April 24, 1933 – June 4, 2007) – Am I Grooving You (1967)
This phenomenal, rockin' jam by the singer/songwriter who went to #1 R&B with Are You Lonely for Me was co-written by Bert Berns and Jeff Barry.
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Freddie Scott was a soul singer/songwriter who is best remembered for his #1 R&B hit from 1966, “Are You Lonely for Me.”
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Scott developed his love of music thanks largely to his grandmother, who was a gospel singer with her own group called the Gospel Keyes. He initially went to school to become a doctor but gave it up to focus on his singing career.
Scott began writing and recording songs in the late fifties. His first big break came in 1962, when he was working with songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King on their song “Hey Girl,” which they initially wrote for Chuck Jackson. When Jackson missed a recording session, Scott sang the song instead. His version was released on Colpix Records in 1963, and went to #10 on both the R&B charts and Billboard Hot 100.
He signed to Columbia for a brief time, then switched labels again to Shout records, the R&B subsidiary of songwriter/producer Bert Berns’ Bang Records. The first song he recorded there was “Are You Lonely for Me” (1966), written by Berns. It supposedly took over 100 takes to complete, with backing vocals by Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inspirations. But it was worth the effort, going all the way to #1 R&B for four weeks in early 1967 and #39 on the Hot 100.
In the wake of his hit, Scott released a slew of singles on Shout in rapid succession, most of them produced by Berns. One of his highest-charting follow ups was the phenomenal, rockin’ jam “Am I Grooving You” (1967) co-written by Berns and Ellie Greenwich’s husband and songwriting partner Jeff Barry. It was arranged and conducted by Gary Sherman, produced by Berns, and reached #25 R&B and #71 on the Hot 100.
The upbeat “I’ll be Gone” (1967) was co-written by Rose Marie McCoy and Scott, arranged and conducted by Sherman, and produced by Berns. Its B-side was a cover of Jerry Butler’s “He Will Break Your Heart.”
Also released in 1967 was the beautiful message song “Just Like A Flower,” which Scott co-wrote with Sal Trimachi and co-produced with Berns, with a cover of Ben E. King’s “Spanish Harlem” on the flip. Sadly, Berns died on December 30, 1967 from a heart condition at the young age of 38, leaving Scott on his own.
In 1969, Scott and songwriter/producer Thomas Kaye co-wrote the powerful anti-war song “Johnny’s Hill.” Released on Roulette as the B-side to “Sugar on Sunday,” which was produced by former Motown producer Mickey Stevenson, it did not chart, despite Billboard’s prediction that it would hit the top-twenty R&B.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to the great Freddie Scott.
Further info:
“Freddie Scott: Rhode Island’s Original Soul Man,” by Mike Edwards, Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame Historical Archive.
#soul #funk #BertBerns #Shout #FreddieScott