Scatman John

Scatman John, born John Paul Larkin, was an American artist born on March 13, 1942, in El Monte, California, and died on December 3, 1999, in Los Angeles. He is known for creating a unique fusion of scat singing and electronic dance music, turning his stutter into a major artistic asset.

Influenced by jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane, he launched his international career in 1994 with the single Scatman. The track, blending Eurodance and scat, achieved global success, reaching number one in many countries and selling over 6 million copies. This success paved the way for his first album, Scatman's World, released in 1995, which sold 3 million copies and set a world record for sales in the most countries.

His second single, Scatman's World, also reached the UK Top 10 and sold one million copies, solidifying his popularity, particularly in Europe and Asia where he had a very strong fan base. In total, his albums and singles were awarded 14 gold and 18 platinum certifications.

Committed to the stuttering community, Scatman John received the Annie Glenn Award for outstanding service and was inducted into the National Stuttering Association Hall of Fame. Despite a lung cancer diagnosis, he maintained a positive attitude until his death at age 57. His artistic legacy, marked by joyful and catchy tracks, continues to convey a message of hope and positivity.

Among his aliases and name variations are John Larkin, J. Scatman, John Scatman, Scatman, The Scatman, as well as transcriptions in different languages like スキャットマン・ジョン or 스캣맨 존.