Walter Scott Jr. died at the age of 81 on Thursday, June 26 after a battle with cancer.
Known for his significant role as a co-founder of the popular R&B band The Whispers, this legendary artist saw success with chart-topping singles like “And the Beat Goes On” from 1979 and “Rock Steady” in 1987.
Based on reports from various news sources such as Billboard and the Los Angeles Sentinel, it is confirmed that he passed away six months following his cancer diagnosis.
He was in Northridge, California, surrounded by his family at the time of his passing.
Scott was among the initial founders of the renowned vocal ensemble The Whispers, whose enduring status in R&B music was solidified as fifteen of their tracks consistently hit the Top 10 on Billboard’s R&B charts throughout their career.
In 1980, Their Greatest Hits (And the Beat Goes On) took the top spot on the charts, and in 1987, Rock Steady followed suit by achieving number one status as well.
The Whispers also landed eight of their R&B records on the Top 10 R&B albums chart.
Over the subsequent years, a variety of modern hip-hop musicians frequently incorporated samples of the band’s tunes into their own tracks, with artists such as 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, J. Cole, and Will Smith among those who did so.
In his Miami release from the late ’90s, Smith incorporated the famous song “And the Beat Goes On” by The Whispers into his own track.
Scott was born in Texas in 1944, but his family later relocated to Los Angeles in his early years.
In the year 1963, they (he and his brother, Wallace Scott) chose to establish a five-piece R&B group together, which they named The Whispers. This band was formed in collaboration with Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson, and Gordy Harmon.
The group spent time in San Francisco before Scott was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War.
Eventually, Scott took a break from the band after joining the United States Armed Forces in 1965. He served as a signalman until 1969, at which point he returned to the group.
1980 was a breakout year for me! I remember like it was yesterday when some of my songs from that year started going gold, and eventually, even platinum! It felt like the start of something truly amazing.
Over time, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with various recording labels, such as Soul Train Records, Solar Records, and Capital Records.
Throughout the 2000s, they persisted with their joint performances. In 2014, The Whispers were honored by being inducted into both the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Hutson died in 2000, while Caldwell and Harmon died in 2016 and 2023, respectively.
As reported by Billboard, Scott is mourned by his spouse Jan, their two sons, three grandkids, and his identical twin brother Wallace “Scotty” Scott.
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2025-06-29 02:34