Song:Hey Girl
Album:Something Good: From The Goffin & King Songbook
Soul singer songwriter Freddie Scott had his biggest chart success with the 1963 top ten hit Hey Girl. He also wrote songs for others as a songwriter in the legendary Brill Building in New York City. He was born Apr. 24, 1933 in Providence, RI. As a teen he sang with his grandmother's gospel group Sally Jones & The Gospel Keyes. Scott went to medical school at Paine College in Augusta, GA. He joined the gospel group Swanee Quintet Juniors and decided to quit school and move to New York City and begin a career in music. He worked for Zell Sanders' J & S label and wrote the Johnnie & Joe hit I'll Be Spinning. But then Scott was drafted into the US Army and served in Korea. After he returned, Scott went to work for Don Kirshner's Aldon Music in the Brill Building. He wrote songs and produced Aretha Franklin's sister Erma Franklin for Columbia. Hey Girl was written by the the legendary songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. They asked Scott to record a demo of the song. They were giving it to Chuck Jackson. When Jackson failed to show up at the recording session, Goffin decided to finish Scott's recording. Colpix released it and it reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. You can get it on this Ace Records comp of Goffin/King songs. Scott also had success recording for Bert Berns at Bang Records. Are You Lonely For Me topped the R & B Singles chart in 1966. Unfortunately Berns died in 1967 and Bang closed. Freddie Scott also recorded for ABC Probe, Vanguard, Pickwick International and Mainstream. But for the most part, he made his living writing jingles with partner Helen Miller. Freddie Scott continued to tour the oldies circuit until his death on June 4, 2007 at age 78. Here's Freddie Scott performing Hey Girl on a PBS oldies show.
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