Screamin' Jay Hawkins Leofric Jazz Club – April 1966

 Screamin' Jay Hawkins Leofric Jazz Club – April 1966

by Pete Clemons

I recently listened to Arthur Brown's 'Crazy World Of' album. On that album Arthur does a fine version of 'I Put a Spell on You'. Soon after I was reminded that Jalacy Hawkins (aka Screaming Jay) once appeared in Coventry.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins had co-wrote 'I Put A Spell On You' along with Herb Slotkin. This haunting classic was performed at the Leofric Jazz Club on 10th April 1966. The song, written a decade before his visit to Coventry, has since bewitched generations for decades.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins was one of the most outrageous and colourful character in rock 'n’ roll history. His stage act included emerging from a coffin and carrying a flaming skull on a long stick that he called Henry. He really did put on an incredibly theatrical show.

His first UK tour was during 1965 and this was quickly followed by a return visit in 1966. He would say 'My act is built of standing up and singing a song, playing a tenor sax or piano, dancing and running all over the place'.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins arrived at London Airport on April 1st for the beginning of his second UK tour, which lasted for almost a month, from April 1st. Incredibly his first gig was for the later that day at the Ram Jam club in Brixton. There was barely any time for Hawkins to rest.

The package tour was put together by Roy Tempest's Global Promotions and Hawkins was to be backed by Herbie Goins and the Night-timers. American born, Herbie Goins was stationed in the United Kingdom for a while with the U.S. army and was now living permanently in the United Kingdom.

After retirement from the army Herbie became a vocalist in Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. But then in 1964 branched out and formed the Night-timers who became one of the hottest soul bands around.

In Herbie's band for the 1966 tour was Mick Eve on saxophone, Mike Carr organ & vibes, Harry Beckett trumpet, David Price bass guitar, and Bill Stephens on drums. John McLaughlin was a guitarist for the Night-timers but, as far as I can tell, he joined them after this tour.

The Night-timers second single 'Number One In Your Heart ' released July 1966 (Parlophone R 5478) was added to the set list on the tour which concluded in London on April 22nd at the Flamingo Club.

Coincidentally a version of 'I Put a Spell on You' had helped promote the 1966 tour. A version of it by Alan Price had got to number nine in the charts in April 1966 while Jay was over here. After John Peel's death, a copy of the Alan Price single was found among the DJ's most treasured singles.

'I Put a Spell on You' has been revived many times since including a version by Bryan Ferry in 1993, his version reaching the top twenty.

Screamin' Jay died in France in 2000. Later that year, Sonique took his most famous song back into the UK top ten. Herbie Goins, who originally hailed from Florida, died in Italy in 2015.