{{Short description|American pianist (1948–2024)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Scott Simon | alias = Screamin' Scott Simon | birth_name = Scott Simon | birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|12|09}} | birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|09|05|1948|12|09}} | death_place = Ojai, California, U.S. | years_active = 1969–2022 | genre = Rock and roll | occupation = Pianist | label = Kama Sutra Records | past_member_of = Sha Na Na (1970–2022) | image = Screamin' Scott Simon 2009.JPG | caption = Simon in 2009 }} {{Sources|date=September 2024}}
'''Scott Jared Simon''' (December 9, 1948 – September 5, 2024), also known as '''Screamin' Scott Simon''', was an American pianist known for playing in Sha Na Na from April 1970 until the band's disbandment in December 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shanana.com/bios.htm|title=Biography|publisher=The Official Sha Na Na Website|access-date=November 14, 2010}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Simon was born in Kansas City, Missouri on December 9, 1948.<ref name = Sandomir>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/12/arts/music/scott-simon-dead.html|title = Screamin’ Scott Simon, Longtime Sha Na Na Keyboardist, Dies at 75|last = Sandomir|first = Richard|date = September 12, 2024|accessdate = September 12, 2024|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited}}</ref> He graduated from Southwest High School in Kansas City, in 1966, and graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Columbia College band Sha Na Na to return to campus after 47 years |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/news/columbia-college-band-sha-na-na-return-campus-after-47-years |access-date=April 27, 2022 |website=Columbia College |language=en}}</ref> In college, he played piano and sang with the Royal Pythons, a band that included Chris Donald on guitar (who went on to join him in Sha Na Na in 1970), Jack Hartford on drums, and Richard Yospin on bass.
== Sha Na Na == Simon joined Sha Na Na in April 1970, under the name "Screamin' Scott Simon".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/sep_oct08/features1|title=Sha Na Na and the Invention of the Fifties|last=Leonard|first=George J.|author2=Robert A. Leonard |date=September–October 2008|publisher=Columbia College Today|access-date=November 14, 2010}}</ref> He wrote numerous songs that have been recorded by the band and others over the years.
Sha Na Na, who are known for covering 1950s rock and roll and doo-wop, appeared as a 1950s version of themselves in the 1978 film version of ''Grease.'' In the film, he and Louis St. Louis collaborated on the song "Sandy", performed by John Travolta.
Simon continued to tour with Sha Na Na, along with founding member Jocko Marcellino, until December 5, 2022, when it was announced that Sha Na Na would no longer be touring. During his time in Sha Na Na, he played on every album, with the exception of their first album, which was released in 1969.
== Personal life and death == Simon and his first wife, Sarina Beges, were married from 1971 until divorcing in 1988; they had two daughters.<ref name = Sandomir/> In 2000, he married Deborah Richetta.<ref name = Sandomir/>
Simon died of sinus cancer in Ojai, California, on September 5, 2024, at the age of 75.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=Scott Simon Dies: 52-Year Sha Na Na Singer Who Co-Wrote Song For ‘Grease’ Was 75 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/scott-simon-dead-sha-na-na-grease-1236080522/ |access-date=September 6, 2024 |publisher=Deadline |date=September 6, 2024}}</ref>
== Discography == {{Further information|Sha Na Na}}
* ''Sha Na Na'' (1971) * ''The Night Is Still Young'' (1972) * ''The Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll'' (1973) * ''From the Streets of New York'' (live) (1973) * ''Hot Sox'' (1974) * ''Sha Na Now'' (1975) * ''Rock 'n Roll Graffiti – Live in Japan'' (1975) * ''Rockin' in the 1980s'' (1980) * ''Silly Songs'' (1981) * ''34th & Vine'' (1990) * ''Live in Concert'' (1996) * ''Rock 'n Roll Dance Party'' (1996) * ''Then He Kissed Me'' (1999) * ''Live in Japan'' (2000) * ''Rockin' Christmas'' (2002) * ''One More Saturday Night'' (2006)
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{discogs artist|Scott Simon (3)}} * {{imdb name|0800046}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, Screamin' Scott}} Category:1948 births Category:2024 deaths Category:American rock pianists Category:Columbia College, Columbia University alumni Category:Sha Na Na members Category:20th-century American pianists Category:21st-century American pianists Category:Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Category:Deaths from cancer in California Category:20th-century American male pianists Category:21st-century American male pianists