Known as the queen of the organ, Shirley Scott was a beloved figure of the
Philadelphia jazz scene, pioneering infectious soul-jazz grooves in the 1950s,
'60s and '70s, leading her own band and releasing over 50 albums.
Growing up, her father ran a Speakeasy-type jazz club in the basement of the
family home and Scott played piano and saxophone in school bands before turning
to the organ at 18-years-old after hearing Jackie Davis and Jimmy Smith. As the
popularity of the Hammond B-3 organ grew thanks to players like Fats Waller and
Count Basie, Scott's swinging style mixed bebo...