Resurrection of Screamin' Jay Hawkins Band Put A Spell On You

August 24th was no “Ordinary” day in Philadelphia. The Resurrection of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Band put a spell on PhilaMOCA. The band arriving from NYC like a ghost coming to town has shock rocked their fans. The band came not only armed with musical instruments but with a coffin / toilet bowl to be used to perform Hawkins famous blues tune Constipation Blues.
Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins (July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, film producer, and boxer. Famed chiefly for his powerful, operatic vocal delivery and wildly theatrical performances of songs such as “I Put a Spell on You”, he sometimes used macabre props onstage, making him an early pioneer of shock rock. No one knows better than Eric Bresler, Director/Curator of the PhilaMOCA– Eric said “the audience was on their feet dancing and singing along, it was a high energy night and the band was fantastic. Eric Bresler said, “I hope to host the Resurrection again in the future.” Mike Armando was Screamin’ Jay Hawkins guitarist back in the 70’s. Other members of the band who performed were: Shakar ” TheRealShakar” Brumfield – vocals, Tim Price – sax, Andrew Golba – bass, Michael Fox – drums.

Mike has said "he would love to bring the Resurrection of Screamin' Jay Hawkins Band to Garwood, N.J. Just finding a venue first would have to be considered. If someone reaches out to us we will take that into consideration first".

How did this all get started?

The idea for the tribute band was inspired by Steve Bergsman's upcoming biography of the singer called "I PUT A SPELL ON YOU: THE BIZARRE LIFE OF SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS," which is published by Feral House Publications and released July 2019.

"Steve Bergsman interviewed me extensively for the book, and afterward it motivated me to form the tribute band," says Mike. "I know people will want to read about Screamin' Jay because he truly was bizarre, but I thought it would be great if I could show fans his music and what his famous shows looked like."

Screamin' Jay grunted, groaned, snarled and even moaned with intestinal pain during performances. Sometimes he would appear in aboriginal dress, with a bone through his nose and casting voodoo spells. He was always accompanied by Henry, his staff topped with a skull. He sometimes performed swirled in a cloud of smoke and, most famously, he would emerge from a coffin to sing his best known song.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins was a prolific songwriter and his huge songbook has rarely been heard outside of "I Put A Spell on You." Mike plans to perform some of the more well-known compositions like "Constipation Blues," "Alligator Wine" and lesser-known nuggets like "Feast of the Mau Mau." Although some dedicated fans might prefer "Armpit #6" or "(She Put The) Whammee (On Me).""The hardest part of forming a tribute band was finding someone to be Screamin' Jay Hawkins, but when I met Shakar "TheRealShakar" Brumfield, I knew he was the right person because he was an actor as well as a singer," says Mike. "Back in 2016, he won the Apollo Theater's "Amateur Night Making a Star" competition." Other members of this extremely talented band include Tim Price on saxophone, Andrew Golba on bass, and Mike Fox on drums."The band is not just performing the music of Screamin' Jay Hawkins but creating a time machine of one of rock's true wild men. "In fact, Screamin' Jay may even pop out of a coffin," Mike says. "Let the resurrection begin."It's a show you will long remember. If you want this band to come to your town you can contact them from there website they even have a live chat line to ask question about the band and there show & Booking: https://mjajazz.wixsite.com/screamin-jay-hawkins

Quotes about this show

• “Forget about zombies! With the Resurrection of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Tribute Band, the man who invented shock-rock is back and he is gonna put a spell on you. Don’t miss the most exciting stage act since Screamin’ Jay Hawkins first emerged from a coffin.” -Steve Bergsman, author of I Put a Spell on You.

• “For old fans of Screamin’Jay Hawkins, this band has captured the off the hook creativity of Jays music . New fans will be treated to a style that could only have flourished in a better time for music.” -Robbie Dupree “Steal Away”

• “Mike Armando is a great jazz and blues guitar player. Working with Screamin’ Jay for years has clearly influenced his life and music. – Tommy Castro” -Tommy Castro & The PainKillers

• “‘Resurrection of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Tribute Band.’ I thoroughly enjoyed it! I compared it to YouTube clips of the original and found your Groups “Resurrection Tribute” to be musically adept and entertaining as well as presenting a historically correct tribute to the man and his music. -Dave Nichols, On Air Producer, Progressive WOWI-FM

• “Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ role as a groundbreaking innovator is legendary in the annals of American Musicology. Guitarist Mike Armando was at Hawkins’ side back in the day and his new project The Resurrection of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Tribute Band breathes new life into this fun and important music.” -Steve Scarborough – KZFR, 90.1 FM People Powered Radio Chico, CA