Walter C. Scott Jr., whose buttery vocals alongside his identical twin Wallace were the hallmarks behind hitmaking R&B group The Whispers, died on Thursday (June 26) after a six-month battle with cancer. At the time of his death in Northridge, Calif., the 81-year-old was surrounded by his family.
The Los Angeles-based quintet is best known for its spate of R&B hits in the ‘80s such as its first No. 1 with dance anthem “And the Beat Goes On,” followed by the sensual ballad “Lady,” the up-tempo groove “It’s a Love Thing” and the group’s second No. 1 with another dance track “Rock Steady,” which also reached No. 7 on the Hot 100. All told, The Whispers charted 15 top 10 R&B hits, beginning in 1970 with the group’s No. 6 breakthrough ballad “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong.” The quintet also counts eight top 10 R&B albums in its catalog including two No. 1s: The Whispers and Love Is Where You Find It.
Walter Scott Jr. was born in Ft. Wort, Texas, in 1944, with the family later moving to Los Angeles. That’s where he and his brother Wallace teamed up as The Whispers with Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson and Gordy Harmon in 1963. The group relocated briefly to San Francisco in 1966, playing gigs and honing their live act. Drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, Walter rejoined the group when he returned in 1969.
Recording for various labels including Soul Clock, Janus and Soul Train, The Whispers began to hit its stride in 1978 after signing with Dick Griffey’s Solar Records, scoring No. 10 on the R&B chart with “(Let’s Go) All the Way” followed by the top 15 “(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out.” A year later came “And the Beat Goes On.” In addition to their elegant vocals and scintillating harmonies, the group was heralded as well for its smooth dance routines onstage, making The Whispers a concert draw well into the 2000s.
Following an injury to his larynx, Harmon — who died in 2023 — was replaced by Leaveil Degree in 1973. Fellow founding members Hutson and Caldwell died in 2000 and 2016, respectively. The Whispers were inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2014.
Walter is survived by his wife, Jan, two sons, three grandchildren and brother Wallace. Information about funeral services will be announced at a later date.
