The infamous Scott Walker has died, aged 76, on March 25th. He was best known for his subversive music and iconic singer-songwriter abilities, which have influenced many artists since. He was born Noel Scott Engel in Hamilton, Ohio in 1943 and started his career as a late ’50s teen idol, singing on The Eddie Fisher Show.
He went on to perform as part of the band The Walker Brothers, having hits with songs The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore and Make It Easy On Yourself, before embarking on a solo career. Walker is best known for the darker music he went on to produce, such as the work of his first solo album, Scott to Scott 4, which talks about more marginalised groups and characters within society, giving a depraved edge to his sound.
Fellow musician, Brian Eno has previously said of him, “He took music to a place that it hasn’t actually ever been since,” sighting him as one of his main influences. Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has also said Walker was”a huge influence on Radiohead and myself, showing me how I could use my voice and words”, emphasising the effect Walker’s music, which was so ahead of its time, had.
Further tributes have come in from likes of Labour’s Tom Watson, “Scott Walker, who has died aged 76, was one of the most original and stylish music makers of his generation. His legacy stretches from The Walker Brothers to a formidable solo career at the very edge of creative genius. My condolences to his family.” who heralds him as a musical genius and legend in his own right.
>Â Leona Hubbard
