Stout-Hearted Man
by Shooby Taylor
posted 2/11/08
Shooby Taylor is "noted for his highly idiosyncratic scat style, using sounds and syllables quite unlike those used by other scat singers." (Although, in truth, I find that most scat singers have their own unique and unabashed style). He made a few recordings, was unknown for the majority of his life, had an appearance at the Apollo Theater and is now mostly remembered for being weird and having a cult following. I found out about him through several places, but he belongs to a group of musicians who make what some called "Outsiders Music." I personally like him because ofhis enthusiasm. Often skill is valued above enthusiasm (not to say that Shooby doesn't have any skill, which is debatable either way) but I would rather see someone who is really into their music than someone who is especially skilled but didn't care. I also like how he doesn't sound like anything else you can think of. There are recordings of him just taking another recording (like Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues") and just scatting over it, with original vocals still intact. A man named Irwin Chusid has a pair of CDs (that I love) and a book called "Songs in the Key of Z" that has music and biographies Shooby and other outsider musicians (including Wesley Willis, Daniel Johnston and the Shaggs.)
