Hazel Scott - "Foggy Day"

In honor of Black History Month all of February’s posts will feature black artists and artists of color.

Hazel Dorothy Scott (June 11, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was a Trinidadian-born jazz and classical pianist, singer, and actor. She was a critically acclaimed performing artist and an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and segregation. She used her influence to improve the representation of Black Americans in film.

Born in Port of Spain, Scott moved to New York City with her mother at the age of four. Scott was a child musical prodigy, receiving scholarships to study at the Juilliard School when she was eight. In her teens, she performed in a jazz band. She also performed on the radio.

She was prominent as a jazz singer throughout the 1930s and 1940s. In 1950, she became the first black American to host her own TV show, The Hazel Scott Show. Her career in America faltered after she testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1950 during the McCarthy era. Scott subsequently moved to Paris in 1957 and began performing in Europe, not returning to the United States until 1967.

She was luminous, and all too often overlooked for her incredible achievements.

So today, with more light, I choose Hazel Scott’s “Foggy Day” as my, chin up young person, one more small miracle, hold your boundaries, song for an, accountable to be held, lines to be drawn, agreements to be made, Thursday.

Additionally, I’m adding in some other incredible performances and most importantly there is a video telling you a bit of her history and happened to her.