Shoo Bee da Boo Ba da Boo Bee
Hello everyone and welcome back for another great Throw Back Thursday!
Today we're going to talk about scatting and find out what it is, when it was used and where it is today! So let's get started!
If you don't know what scatting is, it's vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables or even without words. This is a way you can use the voice as an instrument instead of a speaking medium. Even though scat singing is improvised, it is usually variations on scale and arpeggio fragments, stock patterns and riffs. Jazz singers each had different personal styles and syllables they would typically use. For instance, Betty Carter would use sounds like "louie-ooie-la-la-la" (soft-tongued sounds or liquids) while Sarah Vaughan would prefer "shoo-doo-shoo-bee-ooo-bee" in her songs.
So when did this scatting come into music? Many think that Louis Armstrong's 1926 recording of "Heebie Jeebies" is the first song to use scatting, however, there are earlier examples. Gene Greene, in his song "King of the Bungaloos" and several others between 1911 and 1917, used scat choruses in some of their songs. I'm including his song "King of the Bungaloos" because it holds a FUN FACT: Gene Greene was the first Popeye singing voice to be recorded. Before the video introduced this fact I heard the voice and immediately looked into who played the original Popeye voice. Moments later the video actually reveals that information, which I thought was interesting.
Al Jolson also scatted through a few bars in the middle of his 1911 recording of "That Haunting Melody". In 1924 Gene Rodemich sang "Scissor Grinder Joe" and "Some of These Days" , which also came before Armstrong's "Heebie Jeebies."
Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia.com on Scatting:
"Jelly Roll Morton credited Joe Sims of Vicksburg, Mississippi, as the creator of scat around the turn of the 20th century. Here is a transcription of a conversation between Alan Lomax and Jelly Roll Morton where Morton explains the history of scat:
Lomax: Well, what about some more scat songs, that you used to sing way back then?
Morton: Oh, I'll sing you some scat songs. That was way before Louis Armstrong's time. By the way, scat is something that a lot of people don't understand, and they begin to believe that the first scat numbers was ever done, was done by one of my hometown boys, Louie Armstrong. But I must take the credit away, since I know better. The first man that ever did a scat number in history of this country was a man from Vicksburg, Mississippi, by the name of Joe Sims, an old comedian. And from that, Tony Jackson and myself, and several more grabbed it in New Orleans. And found it was pretty good for an introduction of a song.
Lomax: What does scat mean?
Morton: Scat doesn't mean anything but just something to give a song a flavor. For an instance we'll say: [launches into an example scat song, accompanying himself on the piano]"
So why do people give the credit to Louie Armstrong? It was his performance of "Heebie Jeebies" in 1926 that was the turning point for Scatting.
Over time, many other Jazz artists picked up scatting and slipped it into their songs, some even making it their signature style. Ella Fitzgerald was one of the artists that would scat in her music and she was known as one of the greatest scat singers in jazz history.
I love this performance by Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong together in "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Two of the greats coming together for one lovely tune.
Scatting was used for several decades in the 20th century and can even be seen still today, though it is few and far between.
Here is Nina Simone, singing "Feeling Good" in 1965.
New Year's Eve 1989-1990, Ella Fitzgerald along side of Mel Torme scat, almost in a fun competitive way, but blending together nicely:
Here is a clip from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" showing Uncle Phil (James Avery) scatting, showing the younger generation, at the time, how it was done in their day.
Some today still throw scatting into their music, such as Jason Mraz, Michael Bublé, and others who do jazz covers. Here, Jason Mraz talks about scatting in a couple different songs in particular:
Today you can learn how to scat through listening to your favorite old jazz artists who embraced this musical style and made it what it is today. You can also learn from others on the internet who are willing to train you how to create your own personal scatting style. Here is one tutorial, out of many out there, that will show you how it's done:
It is pretty fun, you should try it sometime! It's not a commonly heard style these days anymore but it sure is a distinctive style. There are some, my sister included, who don't enjoy listening to the nonsensical riffs and syllables in the music. But to each their own.
Hope you had fun with this week's Throw Back Thursday learning all about Scatting!