Freddie Scott

Best remembered for his 1966 R&B chart-topper "Are You Lonely for Me," deep soul belter Freddie Scott was born April 24, 1933, in Providence, RI. In his early teens, he performed with his grandmother's gospel group, Sally Jones & the Gospel Keyes, but then gravitated toward a career in medicine, working on his Ph.D. at Paine College in Augusta, GA. There Scott joined the Swanee Quintet Juniors, a teen version of the famed gospel act, making his recorded debut singing lead on their "Far Away Places." He soon abandoned med school in favor of a performing career, crossing over from spiritual gospel to secular soul and in 1956 signing to Zell Sanders' J&S label to issue his debut solo single, "Running Home." The record earned little attention, but Johnnie & Joe scored soon after with the Scott-penned "I'll Be Spinning." However, in late 1956 he was called up for military duty, briefly serving in Korea. But Scott's service stint did not completely curtail his recording career, and for the tiny Bow and Arrow label he cut 1957's "Tell Them for Me," followed a year later by "Please Call" and "A Faded Memory." After completing his military stint, Scott landed with the short-lived Enrica label for 1959's "Come On, Honey," and when it met the same indifference that greeted his previous records he focused on songwriting, teaming with Helen Miller to compose for Al Nevins and Don Kirshner's Brill Building firm Aldon Music. Scott sang on many of his Aldon demos and worked briefly as a producer, helming sessions for Aretha Franklin's sister Erma. In 1961, he also resumed his recording career, cutting "Baby, You're a Long Time Dead" for the Joy label. In 1962, fellow Aldon songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King approached him for assistance with "Hey Girl," a new tune they hoped...