Rhoda (b. July 3, 1938 in Dorothy, New Jersey) was an African-American hard beat and soul jazz organist. Scott was the daughter of an AME minister and spent most of her childhood in New Jersey where she learned how to play the organ in the churches her father attended. She was soon serving as an organist in youth and gospel choirs at her father’s church and other churches. Scott studied classical piano later, but she specialized in the organ and eventually earned a Masters’ degree from the Manhattan School of Music in music theory. She was asked by a member of a choir to play in a small jazz band. She enjoyed the music and agreed to continue with the group, but she would be allowed to play the organ instead of the piano. She soon chose the Hammond organ as her instrument and quickly became a leading jazz musician. Many consider her to be the best female jazz organist. Scott first discovered the organ at her father’s church when she was seven years old. In a recent interview, she said that the organ was “the most beautiful instrument in all of the world.” “The first thing that I did was to take off my shoes and start working the pedals. She began playing the church organ with her naked feet from that point on. To this day, she continues to do so, earning nicknames like “The Barefoot Lady”, and “The Barefoot Contessa”. Scott left the United States in 1967 to move to France. She has enjoyed a lot of success there, earning more recognition than she received in the United States. However, she still performs in France. Her repertoire includes many well-known standards, such as In the Mood and Theme from New York. She also has Mack the Knife and Mack the Knife. In May 2011, she performed in Versailles Jazz Festival with Francis Vidil, a classical organist. They combined the sounds of jazz and Hammond organs. Wikipedia
