Scott Walker

Noel Scott Engel, known professionally as Scott Walker (January 9, 1943–March 2019). Born in Hamilton, Ohio, he and his mother relocated to Hollywood in the 1950s where he began his career as a professional singer, actor, and teen idol, releasing early rock records under the name Scott or “Scotty” Engel. By the 1960s, he transitioned to session work, playing on surf and R&B records. While America focused on The Beatles, Engel developed a deep interest in Jazz and avant-garde cinema. In 1964, he adopted the stage name Scott Walker and formed The Walker Brothers . The group moved to London, achieving immediate mega-stardom with Top 10 hits . After the group's hiatus in 1967, Scott released a string of celebrated solo albums (Scott 1, 2, 3, and the critically acclaimed Scott 4 in 1969). The Walker Brother final reunion LP, 1978's Nite Flights, featured four groundbreaking tracks written and produced by Scott. This work introduced him to a new audience aligned with the “art pop” and “post punk” movements, a sound further refined on the 1984 classic Climate of Hunter. Following another quiet decade, Walker’s legendary status grew. He emerged with an experimental trilogy: Tilt (1995), The Drift (2006), and Bish Bosch (2012). He also immersed himself in film, composing scores for Pola X, Childhood of a Leader, and Vox Lux. His final LP, Soused, was a 2014 collaboration with drone metal band sunn O))). Scott Walker unexpectedly passed away in London in March 2019 at the age of 76.