Winfield Scott (November 27, 1920 – October 26, 2015), also known as Robie Kirk, was an American songwriter and singer. He wrote or co-wrote the hit songs "

Tweedle Dee "Tweedlee Dee" (also "Tweedly Dee" or "Tweedle Dee") is a rhythm and blues novelty song with a Latin music (genre), Latin-influenced riff written by Winfield Scott (songwriter), Winfield Scott for LaVern Baker and recorded by her at Atlantic Reco ...

" for

LaVern Baker Delores LaVern Baker (November 11, 1929 – March 10, 1997) was an American R&B singer who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were " Tweedle Dee" (1955), " Jim Dandy" (1956), and " ...

, and he was a co-writer with

Otis Blackwell Otis Blackwell (February 16, 1931 – May 6, 2002) was an American songwriter whose work influenced rock and roll. His compositions include "Fever" (recorded by Little Willie John), "Great Balls of Fire" and " Breathless" (recorded by Jerry Le ...

of " Return to Sender" for

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

. "Return to Sender", written for the Presley film ''

Girls! Girls! Girls! ''Girls! Girls! Girls!'' is a 1962 Golden Globe-nominated American Musical film, musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley as a penniless Hawaii-based fisherman who loves his life on the sea and dreams of owning his own boat. "Return to Sender ( ...

'', was a U.K. No.1 single and peaked at No.2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Scott was born in

Bloomfield, New Jersey Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the township's population was 53,105. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District. History The initial patent for the land that w ...

. In the 1950s, he was a member of a vocal group,

The Cues The Cues were an American R&B vocal group, who recorded both under their group name and under various other names as backing singers for artists on Atlantic Records and other labels in the 1950s. They recorded as the Rhythmakers with Ruth Brown ...

. Scott was a longtime collaborator of

and together they were hired to write a song for the Elvis Presley film ''

Roustabout Roustabout (Australia/New Zealand English: rouseabout) is an occupational term. Traditionally, it referred to a worker with broad-based, non-specific skills. In particular, it was used to describe show or circus workers who handled materials ...

''. While the film was released in 1964, the song "I'm a Roustabout" was not used, producer

Hal Wallis Harold Brent Wallis (born Aaron Blum Wolowicz; October 19, 1898 – October 5, 1986) was an American film producer. He is best known for producing '' Casablanca'' (1942), ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' (1938), and ''True Grit'' (1969), along w ...

instead preferring "Roustabout", written by Bill Giant,

Bernie Baum Bernie Baum (October 13, 1929 – August 28, 1993) was a songwriter who worked extensively with Elvis Presley. He grew up in New York City and later worked with Harvey Zimmerman (better known as Bill Giant) and Florence Kaye. The majority of t ...

and

Florence Kaye Florence Kaye (January 19, 1919 - May 12, 2006) was a member of a song-writing trio that also included Harvey Zimmerman (better known as Bill Giant) and Bernie Baum. She was born in New York City. She performed a radio show in Georgia and entertai ...

, as the title song. In 2003, a remark made to Peter Guarraci, a Star Ledger reporter, by Scott started a search for the lost recording of the Presley song, which was eventually found and released on the 2003 Elvis Presley

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

, '' 2nd to None''. Another Scott and Blackwell collaboration is the R&B classic "Home In Your Heart". Scott also wrote " Many Tears Ago" for

Connie Francis Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero (born December 12, 1937), known professionally as Connie Francis, is an American pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Called the “First Lady of Rock & Roll” ...

. Released in October, 1960, the song reached number 7 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Scott died on October 26, 2015, at age 94.

Partial song list

* "Tweedlee Dee (LaVern Baker and The Gliders) * "Burn That Candle" (

Bill Haley William John Clifton Haley (; July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was an American rock and roll musician. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-sel ...

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...

) * "Bop-Ting-a-Ling" with Blackwell (

) * "We’re Comin’ In Loaded" with Blackwell (Elvis Presley) * " (Such an) Easy Question" with Blackwell (Elvis Presley) * " Return to Sender" with Blackwell (Elvis Presley) * "One Broken Heart For Sale" with Blackwell (Elvis Presley) * Oh Why? (

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...

) * "Please Don’t Drag That String Around" with Blackwell (Elvis Presley) * "

Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On) "Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)" is a song first recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1967 MGM motion picture '' Double Trouble''. Background The song was written by J. Leslie McFarland and Winfield Scott and p ...

" with Leslie McFarland (Elvis Presley) * " Stranger in the Crowd" (Elvis Presley) * "Comfy'n Cozy" with Blackwell (

Conway Twitty Harold Lloyd Jenkins (September 1, 1933 – June 5, 1993), better known by his stage name Conway Twitty, was an American singer and songwriter. Initially a part of the 1950s rockabilly scene, Twitty was best known as a country music performer. ...

) * "A Bucket of Tears" (

Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalis ...

) * "Sweetheart" (Peggy Lee) * "That's Right" (Mills Brothers) 1956 * "Mister Moon" (Pat Boone) 1963 * " Many Tears Ago" (

)

References

External links

Interview with Winfield ScottLost Elvis Song I'm a Roustabout
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Winfield 1920 births 2015 deaths American male songwriters American rock songwriters Songwriters from New Jersey