A fan of the 1990s pop star Scatman John shares how the singer's openness about his own stammer helped her embrace her speech disability.
Key facts
- •Scatman John, whose real name was John Larkin, was a 52-year-old jazz pianist when he achieved global fame with his 1995 hit song.
- •Gina Waggott first contacted Larkin in 1997 after finding his contact information in an online directory.
- •Larkin was an abuse survivor and recovering addict who spoke to Waggott about the dangers of toxic shame.
- •Waggott visited Larkin in Los Angeles in 1999 after learning his cancer diagnosis was terminal.
- •Larkin died in 1999 at the age of 57.
Gina Waggott, who spent much of her youth hiding a speech disability, found a mentor in the pop singer Scatman John after hearing his 1995 hit song. John, born John Larkin, was a lifelong stammerer who used his platform to promote self-esteem among those with speech differences. Their connection began via email in 1997 and evolved into a supportive friendship that helped Waggott move past the shame she felt regarding her own stammer.
By the numbers
A Connection Through Music
Waggott, a covert stammerer who avoided speaking in public to hide her condition, first heard Scatman John’s music in the summer of 1995. While the song was often dismissed as a novelty track, Waggott identified with the lyrics, which encouraged listeners to embrace their differences. She eventually reached out to Larkin via email, not expecting a response from a global star who was performing for massive crowds at the time.
Mentorship and Support
Larkin responded to Waggott’s email and eventually called her on her landline. During their conversations, he encouraged her to stop hiding her stammer, explaining that the condition was a neurological speech difference rather than a defect. He also urged her to join the British Stammering Association, now known as Stamma, to connect with others who shared her experience.
A Final Visit
In 1999, during her first week of university, Waggott learned that Larkin was terminally ill with cancer. She traveled to Los Angeles to visit him, spending four days by his side before returning home. Larkin died six weeks later at the age of 57. Today, Waggott advocates for others with speech disabilities, crediting Larkin with helping her find the confidence to speak openly.
Timeline
- Summer 1995Waggott first hears the song 'Scatman' on her father's car radio.
- 1997Waggott finds Larkin's contact information and sends him an email.
- 1999Waggott visits Larkin in Los Angeles during her first week of university.
- Six weeks after the 1999 visitJohn Larkin dies.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Guardian Health.
