Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 29, 2025 · Entertainment

R&B Icon Walter Scott Jr. Passes Away at 81: A Legacy of Hits and Heart

Walter Scott Jr. died at the age of 81 on Thursday, June 26 after a battle with cancer; pictured August 2023 in Stockbridge, Georgia

R&B LEGEND WALTER SCOTT JR. LEAVES BEHIND A LASTING LEGACY AS THE WHISPERS' FOUNDING MEMBER

In a shocking turn of events, Walter Scott Jr., the iconic founding member of The Whispers, has passed away at the ripe age of 81 after a six-month battle with cancer. The devastating news was revealed to thescholarlynote.com on Thursday, June 26, as Scott's family and loved ones mourned his loss in Northridge, California.

As one of the original members of the legendary vocal group, Scott was instrumental in shaping The Whispers' signature sound, which catapulted them to R&B stardom. With a career spanning over four decades, the group managed to rack up an impressive 15 Top 10 hits on Billboard's R&B chart, cementing their place in music history.

He died six months after he was diagnosed with cancer; pictured 1984 in Rockford, Illinois

One of the most iconic songs from their discography is undoubtedly "And the Beat Goes On," which topped the charts in 1980. Another fan favorite, "Rock Steady," also reached No. 1 status in 1987, solidifying The Whispers' status as R&B royalty.

But Scott's impact didn't stop there. His group's music was widely sampled by hip-hop heavyweights like 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, J. Cole, and Will Smith, with the latter using their smash hit "And the Beat Goes On" in his track Miami, released in the late '90s.

Born in Texas in 1944, Scott's early life took a dramatic turn when his family relocated to Los Angeles in his formative years. It was here that he and his brother, Wallace Scott (aka "Scotty"), hatched the idea of forming an R&B quintet, which would eventually become The Whispers.

Scott was one of the original founding members of the iconic R&B vocal group The Whispers, who cemented their place in R&B history after 15 of their songs landed in the Top 10 of Billboard's R&B chart over the years; pictured 1980 from left to right: Walter Scott Jr., Marcus Hutson, Wallace 'Scotty' Scott, Leaveil Degree and Nicholas Caldwell

The group's journey began in 1963, with Scott and his brother joining forces with Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson, and Gordy Harmon. They spent time honing their craft in San Francisco before Scott was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War.

When he returned from service, Scott went on hiatus from the group to serve as a signaleer in the U.S. Armed Forces until he rejoined The Whispers in 1969. It wasn't long before the group's collective career took off, with multiple songs released in 1980 going gold and even platinum.

Throughout his illustrious career, Scott recorded for various record labels, including Soul Train Records, Solar Records, and Capital Records. Despite ups and downs, The Whispers continued to perform together throughout the 2000s, earning them a well-deserved induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2014.

Their greatest hits, And the Beat Goes On, topped the chart in 1980, while Rock Steady also reached No. 1 status in 1987; pictured March 2022 in Atlanta

Sadly, Scott was preceded in death by his fellow founding members Gordy Harmon (2023) and Nicholas Caldwell (2016), as well as Marcus Hutson, who passed away in 2000. Surviving Scott are his wife Jan, their two sons, three grandchildren, and his twin brother Wallace "Scotty" Scott.

As the music world mourns the loss of this R&B legend, fans everywhere will remember Walter Scott Jr.'s contributions to the genre. His legacy will live on through The Whispers' timeless hits, which continue to inspire new generations of artists and music lovers alike.

Sources:

The group spent time in San Francisco before Scott was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. Scott eventually went on hiatus from the group when he enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, serving as a signaleer until he rejoined the group in 1969; pictured 1985 in Chicago, Illinois

  • thescholarlynote.com
  • Billboard

In 1980, the group's collective career took off as several of their songs released that year went gold and even platinum; pictured July 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio

In 1980, the group's collective career took off as several of their songs released that year went gold and even platinum; pictured 1976 from left to right: Leaveil Degree, Walter Scott, Marcus Hutson, Wallace 'Scotty' Scott and Nicholas Caldwell