Step Aside, Hocus Pocus: The Writer Of "I Put A Spell On You" Was Born Right Here In Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published September 22, 2021
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cleveland is known locally as the birthplace of rock and roll, a title tied to the city after disc jockey Alan Freed first attached “rock and roll” to the genre he liked to play on radio station WJW Cleveland. However, the town has made music history in a number of other ways, from raising some of the era’s finest musicians to crafting songs that remain popular to this very day. Today, we’re going to take a look at the latter… and we’re going to examine one of the most powerful songs ever written in Cleveland. It’s not just powerful… it’s magical… it’s bewitching… it’s haunting… That’s right, we’re going to take a moment to learn about how the writer of “I Put a Spell on You” was born in Cleveland.
Every Halloween, movie lovers get a chance to hear the infamous Sanderson Sisters enchant using music, as this YouTube singalong from Freeform reminds us:
While the song doubtlessly is everywhere each Halloween, it actually has roots reaching back to Cleveland, Ohio.
The original song is endlessly passionate, and some went so far as to find elements of horror in the song... with some even calling it "cannibalistic" and banning the track from their airwaves. The story of its recording and survival despite discrimination is a fascinating one.
Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins was born in Cleveland in 1929 and was adopted by a loving couple that encouraged him to study classical piano.
According to legend, Screamin' Jay wanted to be an opera singer. That, of course, didn't work out... but he got in touch with his natural talent for the blues and began finding local gigs.
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As a young man, Screamin' Jay performed locally... but when things didn't work out, he joined the U.S. Army.
His first enlistment was actually at 13 years old, and his musical talent entertained his fellow soldiers. Later, he would enlist in the Army Air Forces, where he was eventually honorably discharged in 1952. Now, with time to kill, he began really diving into his talents. He was featured alongside all sorts of U.S. musicians and, eventually, he began to catch peoples' attention as a solo act.
Hawkins had one heck of a stage presence, and his costuming was part of the act. However, it really took off after he signed with OKeh Records and released "I Put a Spell on You" in 1956.
To further cement its ties to Cleveland, rock and roll legend Alan Freed offered this spooky performer a decent sum of cash to pop out of a coffin on stage. Following further incorporation of spooky and "voodoo-like" elements in his performances, ghoul rock was born... which has influenced acts like Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath.
While the song was originally meant to be a jazzy love ballad, a bit of alcohol changed the course of its history... and of Hawkins' own story, too.
Purportedly, Screamin' Jay does not even remember recording the song... he was drunk, and the vocals got pretty weird, as he described them. The original version was banned in many places following its plethora of moans and groans, but listeners were enchanted. The song became a hit despite the initial backlash, and it was covered by various artists over the years. It was even played by Creedence Clearwater Revival at Woodstock!
After it became a hit, Screamin' Jay Hawkins' persona really took the spotlight.
Hawkins passed away near Paris in 2000, having lived one wild life. From being stabbed by a jealous performing partner to claiming to have upwards of 75 children (more than 30 of which have been verified), this was one rock legend with a story to tell. Now that you know about the song that launched his career, you might want to research his career a bit further... or swing by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to learn about other awesome musicians that have gone down in rock history.
So there you have it… the mastermind behind “I Put a Spell on You” was born in Cleveland, where he cemented a legacy as a legendary music icon. Did you ever see Hawkins perform live? What is your favorite cover of this song? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Alan Freed, the DJ mentioned in the article, is actually buried here in Cleveland. Learn about other famous Clevelanders that are buried locally to keep the spooky vibes going.
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