Singer
Jimmy Scott
Scott suffered from Kallmann's syndrome, a lifelong affliction that prevented his body from maturing through puberty. The condition slowed his growth, leaving his stature at 4 feet 11 inches until his late 30s. It also affected his vocal cords, giving him a high voice that was often misidentified as a woman's.
Scott was labeled Little Jimmy Scott by bandleader
Lionel Hampton
Scott's career seemed promising after he left Hampton's orchestra. He recorded for various independent labels and toured with a revue run by dancer Estelle "Caledonia" Young that included R&B singer Big Maybelle and comedian
Redd Foxx
Throughout the early '50s and '60s, Scott recorded for various indie labels including Savoy, where he was under the tight control of owner Herman Lubinsky.
According to Scott's 2002 autobiography, The Life of Jimmy Scott (written with David Ritz), Lubinsky halted production of a 1963 album that was personally supervised by Scott fan
Ray Charles
The experience of having his album shelved — not to mention the hardships he experienced being misidentified as a woman, accused of drug addiction and harassed about his sexual identity because of his voice — took a toll and Scott left the music business, moving back to his native Cleveland and becoming a hotel clerk.
Despite his absence, Scott maintained friends and fans in the music business, including legendary R&B producer
Doc Pomus
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