Scatman John

John Larkin - a fast-living, hard-playing, stuttering jazz pianist - overcame abuse, addiction, ageism, and obscurity to stage one of the most improbable debuts in pop music history by turning his greatest pain into his purpose.
At 52, Larkin was a recovering alcoholic and veteran pianist, haunted by shame because of his lifelong stutter. His stutter meant he could scat-sing better than anyone else on the planet, grabbing and firing syllables like bullets - yet he couldn't even say his own name. But when a small, indie record label took a gamble on an oddball fusion of John's scat-singing and dance music, his life changed overnight: Scatman John was born. In 1995, his singles "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" and "Scatman's World" shot to #1 across Europe and Asia, turning a man who'd spent his life hiding into a global star. Audiences were captivated by the absurdity and charm of a middle-aged man in a fedora, machine-gunning syllables over a dance beat. But behind the novelty was a deeper story: John's scat-singing was creative camouflage for his stutter - his music, a last-ditch attempt to survive. When fame finally found him, he chose to reach others who felt broken or silenced, especially stutterers like him, by harnessing the one thing he was most afraid of: his voice.
Based on rare archives and interviews with those who knew him best, this authorized biography is a redemptive, deeply human story of struggle, heartbreak, and triumph. For anyone who's ever felt like an outsider, this book inspires with a powerful message: your deepest fear can become your greatest strength, and your pain can become your purpose.

Gina Waggott is a writer, editor, and former BBC professional with a background spanning broadcasting, journalism, and disability advocacy. Her work has been published in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent, Reader's Digest, Significance Magazine, and over a hundred different websites for companies such as Microsoft and Amazon UK. A covert stutterer, she is active in several nonprofits serving the global stuttering community and its allies. Visit ginawaggott.com/

Introduction. The Unlikeliest Popstar
Prologue. A Good Little Soldier
Part I
1. The Ever-Present Saboteur
2. The Sacrilege
3. Be Someone
4. Girls and Booze
5. Portrait of the Jazzman
6. The Misfit
7. Happy Birthday
8. Secrets Too Hard to See
9. Jazz On the Gig
10. Working Class Hero
11. The Dance of John and Marcia
12. Speedball
13. Breath of Light
14. Going Out
15. Uncovery
16. Surrender Means Win
17. Oil and Water
18. On the Sunny Side of the Street
19. U-Turn
20. Don't Kill Me, But I Have an Idea
Part II
21. The Stutter and the Scat are the Same Thing
22. Popstar
23. Let it Go
24. The Old Newcomer
25. Message To You
26. Scatman's World
27. Joyous Wisdom
28. Welcome to Scatland
29. Johnny Jetlag
30. Journey of Fantasy
31. Everybody Jam
32. One Confused Soul
33. Calling Out
34. Take Your Time
35. I'm Free
36. Can You Hear Me
37. Whatever God Wants
Epilogue. To Be Continued
Acknowledgements
Notes