Walter Scott Jr., co-founder of the legendary R&B group The Whispers, died Thursday in Northridge, California, after a six-month fight with cancer, according to his family.
He was 81.
The Texas-born vocalist helped shape the smooth sound of late-20th-century R&B, guiding The Whispers to 15 top 10 hits on the R&B charts, including the enduring classics “And the Beat Goes On” and “Rock Steady.”
His death marks the end of an era for a group whose music bridged generations and was later sampled by Hip-Hop artists like 50 Cent, J. Cole and Will Smith.
Scott passed away surrounded by loved ones, including his wife, Jan; two sons; three grandchildren; and his brother and longtime bandmate, Wallace “Scotty” Scott.
Born in 1944, Scott moved from Texas to Los Angeles with his family, where he and his brother teamed up with Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson and Gordy Harmon to form The Whispers in 1963.
Scott briefly left the group to serve in the Vietnam War but returned in 1969, just in time to help the band rise to national prominence.
The group’s early years were marked by modest success until their breakthrough single, “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong,” in 1970.
Their polished harmonies and stage presence made them staples of the R&B scene through the 1970s and 1980s.
The Whispers continued performing into the 2000s and were honored in 2014 with inductions into both the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
