Biography

 

Scatman Crothers was born Benjamin Sherman Crothers on May 23, 1910 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Scatman had a passion for performing.  At the early age of five or six he would put on shows for the kids in his neighborhood and at the young age of 15 started a musical career. 

 

Songwriter ("Dearest One"), actor, composer, singer, comedian and guitarist who, after high school, appeared in nightclubs, hotels, films and on television. He made many records, including his own compositions. He joined ASCAP in 1959, and his popular-song compositions also include "The Gal Looks Good", "Nobody Knows Why", "I Was There", "A Man's Gotta Eat" and "When, Oh When".

 

His unsung career and nightclub appearances coincided with the development of modern jazz.  He worked with many of the greats of his time.  

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Best known for his role as Louie the Garbage Man on the television sitcom, Chico and the Man, he broke ground in every medium without becoming a household name.

 

Although he achieved much success in television and movies, he was highly recognized as a musician, singer and songwriter first.

 

Scatman was diagnosed with lung cancer in late 1985, but continued to perform. The cancer eventually spread to his esophagus; at the age of 76 he died of pneumonia on November 22, 1986 at his home in Van Nuys, California. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood, California.