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Screamin' Scott Simon, the celebrated pianist of the iconic rock 'n' roll and doo-wop group Sha Na Na, has passed away at the age of 75, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Simon died on Thursday in Ojai, California, following a prolonged battle with sinus cancer, as announced by his daughter, Nina Simon on her Instagram handle. Rich Homie Quan Dies at 34; Rapper Was Known for Songs ‘Type of Way’, ‘Flex’ Among Others.
Simon, whose career spanned an impressive 52 years with Sha Na Na, was renowned for his dynamic performances and distinctive style. He was a central figure in the group from its inception in 1970 until their final tour in 2022. Known for his energetic stage presence, Simon was famous for playing the piano with his feet while performing classics like Jerry Lee Lewis's 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On' and Danny & the Juniors' 'At the Hop.
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display('div-gpt-ad-1560419204258-2'); }); View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nina Simon (@ninaksimon) In addition to his performance career, Simon played a significant role in the creation of music. He co-wrote the song "Sandy" with Louis St Louis, which was famously performed by John Travolta in the 1978 film adaptation of Grease . The soundtrack from the film became one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 30 million copies sold, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band Singer and Guitarist, Dies at 80. Simon's contributions extended beyond performance into television. With the debut of The Sha Na Na Show in 1977, Simon relocated to Los Angeles and appeared in all 97 episodes of the show over four seasons.
The program featured a range of musical legends, including Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, James Brown, and the Ramones. Sha Na Na's extensive tour history saw them share stages with notable artists such as John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Steve Martin, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Joel. Born on December 9, 1948, in Kansas City, Missouri, Simon was a multi-talented individual with interests in sports and music from an early age.
He was active in the United Synagogue Youth, a national community of Conservative Jewish teenagers, and explored various musical endeavours including jug bands and jazz quartets. Simon moved to New York City in 1966 to attend Columbia University, where he earned the nickname 'Screamin' Scott' from classmates, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He initially fronted a blues band known as The Royal Pythons before joining Sha Na Na in 1970.
Throughout his career, Simon contributed significantly to the band's musical repertoire, composing multiple songs and releasing solo albums. Simon is survived by his wife, Deborah; daughters Nina and Morgan; stepson Nick; and granddaughters Rocket and Naomi. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body).
