Once he was released, Hawkins became a professional Golden Gloves boxer, earning the title as middleweight boxing champion of Alaska in 1949.
In 1951, a few years later, Hawkins opened for artist Tony Grimes. His off-the-chart performances featured a wardrobe of red leather, wild hats and animal prints. In 1956, Hawkins signed with Okeh records and recorded his hit, “I Put a Spell on You.”
Hawkins originally wanted the song to sound like a slow, controlled ballad, but the entire band was drunk while recording. Even Hawkins blacked out during the taping and had to re-learn the song later. The result was a gritty song with moans and groans that was not welcome at some radio stations. It never made it to the Billboard charts, but “I Put a Spell on You" was selected among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."
On a bet with a friend, Hawkins was to appear on stage singing the hit song in a coffin. He not only appeared in a coffin, but the coffin was on fire. With the help of a stage designer from the Apollo Theater, Hawkins built a show with rubber snakes, skulls on fire and satin capes. One of his shows for a later song, “Constipation Blues” featured a toilet on stage.
Jalacy “Screamin' Jay” Hawkins died in 2000 after surgery on an aneurysm. He left behind 75 children.
