The life of Scott Walker is a story of perseverance and ambition. As the first in his family to attend college, Scott struggled with the decision to pursue music or law. He eventually decided on music and began playing in bands. After moving to New York City, he met David Bowie and joined the band Tin Machine.
Scott Walker is one of the most influential musicians of all time. He has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. And he was the first-ever rock-star with a Ph.D.
Early Life of Scott Walker
On January 9, 1943, Scott Walker was born in London, England. His father was the famous composer John Walker. He was named after his father. His mother's name is the French singer, actress, and dancer Marguerite Baker. He was raised by his mother as a child and was sent to boarding school from ages five to thirteen.
When he was just four years old, he went to the Royal College of Music. His family moved to the United States when he was nine years old and settled in Chicago. Scott had his early education in Greenwich Village. Later, he moved to London, completing his high school education.
The Career of Scott Walker
He started singing when he was just 11 years old. He has been singing since the age of 12, and at the age of 15, he joined the band. His first album was released in 1989. The album's first single was 'What does it matter', and it was a big hit and in 1990 he released another album Boy Child Scott Walker.
In 1992, he moved to California, and in 1993, he formed the group 'The Scott Walker Group.' He recorded several albums in the group, and the most notable one is 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence'. In 1999, he released his first solo album 'Scott 4,' a huge success. It sold around 2 million copies worldwide.
Scott formed a band called Scott Walker and the Bop Street Choir. The band gained popularity in the 1990's and recorded three albums, Scott Walker and the Sea of Trees (1996), Scott Walker and the Warm Leatherette (1998), and Scott Walker and the Nightwatchman (2002).
Scott Walker and the Nightwatchman was released in 2002 and were a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The album was followed by Scott Walker and the Driftin' Souls (2004) and Scott 2 (2009).
Scott Walker's music is characterised by his use of unusual time signatures and a wide range of musical styles. He also incorporates elements of folk, rock, jazz, and blues.
Walker has stated that he does not like to be defined by any particular genre of music and considers himself a musician. He has been influenced by various musicians, including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and The Kinks.
Awards of Scott Walker
He received many awards and accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Scott Walker has been nominated for the Grammy Awards five times, and he has won the awards thrice. He has also received the Ivor Novello Award for the best songwriter and the Echo Music Prize for the best international artist.
Death of Scott Walker
Scott Walker died at the age of 76 on March 22, 2019, in Santa Monica, California, after a battle with cancer.
Final Words
In conclusion, his band, the Walker Brothers, released its first single in 1962, ranking one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1965, they had many hits, including "Walk Don't Run" and "What Am I Doing Here?" The Walker Brothers disbanded in 1969, but Walker returned to the spotlight in 1985 with his solo album Love Overdue. He was nominated for five Grammy Awards for his recording. In 1986, he wrote and performed songs for the soundtrack to the film Dirty Dancing. The soundtrack album was certified platinum and was the best-selling soundtrack of the 1980's. Walker was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. His life is one that is filled with passion, creativity, and an incredible drive to succeed