How Is Hazel Scott Relevant Today

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Brandon Grant Professor Julius Williams Music History of the African Diaspora 06 May 2024 Hazel Scott was an extremely prominent figure and left an enduring legacy in African American music still seen to this day. The contributions Scott made to music during her life ranged across a wide assortment of genres such as jazz, classical, and popular music. Scott’s influence, iconic career, and cultural relevance within the African Diaspora should be much more evident in the music industry today, as her achievements and influence on others are truly groundbreaking and set up a solid foundation for future African American musicians (Brandman). Hazel Scott was born on June 11, 1920, in Port of Spain, Trinidad to her father R. Thomas Scott, a West African …show more content…

This atmosphere of being surrounded by jazz, blues, classical, and more music that Scott was raised in had a direct and significant impact on her own creative vision, goals, growth as an artist and musician, and the development of her own distinct musical style as a pianist in the future. Grant 1 Scott began her musical career during her teenage years and was given a scholarship to attend Juilliard School of Music, where she became well-known for her impressive piano performance abilities immediately and was playing at Harlem’s most famous nightclubs including the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater by the age of sixteen (McHugh). By the age of 18 in 1938, Scott made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic where she was considered a prodigy after her performances received critical acclaim and