Cynthia Scott – Jazz Legend

(by Brittny K.)

There are many gems nestled within the walls of River View Towers.  One such jewel is the extraordinarily talented jazz vocalist, Miss Cynthia Scott.  The Grammy-nominated, former Ray Charles “Raelette” embarked upon an impressive solo career and inevitably solidified herself as a jazz legend, later earning the title of Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State in 2004; and induction into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2016.

Although she’d been successfully touring the world for years, Miss Scott made New York City her home in 1986, and moved to River View Towers in 1993, while pursuing her Masters degree from The Manhattan School of Music.  It was during this time that she befriended THE Duke Ellington’s sister, Ruth, who introduced her to Watson Hines, former RVT Board President.  After touring his apartment, she fell for RVT because of his beautiful view of the George Washington Bridge.  “I always said if I lived in New York, I  wanted a high rise view and here was that opportunity,” she declared, despite initially not digging the neighborhood.  Shortly thereafter, she was “here to stay” in Harlem and River View Tower.

I knew I was in the presence of a luminary when I saw Miss Scott perform to a sold out crowd at Smoke Jazz Club last year.  For a petite woman, she dominated the stage with her smooth and spicy vocals that were like seasoned soul food for the ears.   Her show was a testimony to decades of dedication to her craft; and a strong work ethic, which she partially attributes to her parents.  “My mother used to say to me, ‘If your father wasn’t Black, he could be President of the United States,’” recalls Miss Scott.  “He was a go-getter, and could fix anything with only a third grade education.”  Her father eventually became  a Bishop in the Holiness Church.

Having achieved countless accolades as an international jazz superstar (she was Wynton Marsalis’s choice for the first person to give a concert in Lincoln Center’s Rose Room), Miss Scott is in a new phase of her life where she is reshaping the way she shares her musical talents through vocal training, and using her music as activism.  After serving as an adjunct voice professor at New York University and City College, Miss Scott transitioned to private virtual teaching, which kept her stable during the pandemic which abruptly halted her regular shows abroad in locales like Bangkok, Russia and even Ukraine.  

Covid was not the only threat to Miss Scott’s career. “Work used to be very, very plentiful, but it has slowed down, and I am discovering that age discrimination is more painful to me than racial discrimination,” says Scott, who is navigating her career path during her golden years.   One direction she finds herself headed towards is “musical therapy.”  “Did I Know You?” is an emotional piece Miss Scott penned for her mother with Alzheimer’s.  Her gratitude for Obama was the inspiration for “Dream For One Bright World.” “I was grateful…when a Black man was running for President… and won twice!”  Miss Scott’s latest music and performances can be found on her YouTube Channel.  Plus, if you subscribe to her website’s mailing list, or contact her at info@cynthiascott.com, you’ll get occasional musical treats sent to your inbox. 

Be on the lookout for Miss Scott’s new recordings and an exciting digital musical autobiography in the near future.