Happy Birthday, Screamin’ Jay

Creepy. Kooky. Mysterious. And yes, perhaps even a little spooky. No, I’m not talking about the family Addams. I’m talking about the one, the only, the cat with a slight case of the crazies: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. The music world has never had a shortage of characters, and Screamin’ Jay still stands as one of the biggest, baddest characters the industry has ever seen. And we sure do love that here at Les Enfants Terribles!

To start with, the man had enough kids to start his own child army. He wrote a song about constipation. And standing as perhaps the crown of his eccentricities, the man had a skull that he named Henry. For all his, er, quirks, Screamin’ Jay should probably be better known for that voice of his. The impetuous, lively, gorgeous, theatrical voice that you hear in all of his songs, but perhaps most notably in the song you’ll find below.

So put on your satin cape, grab a hold of that skull you hold dear, and throw on some Screamin’ Jay today in celebration of this legend. Happy Birthday, Mr. Hawkins.

mp3: I Put A Spell On You (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins from I Put A Spell On You)

mp3: I Put A Spell On You (Nina Simone from I Put A Spell On You)

mp3: I Put A Spell On You (Creedence Clearwater Revival from Chronicle)