Bluesman, progressive 'Lil Scotty' -- the Button Man -- in critical condition

For immediate release: January 25, 2012
Contact: Steve Balkin, Email: sbalkin@roosevelt.edu, Phone: 312-341-3696

Maxwell Steet Bluesman Clarence ‘Lil Scotty’ Scott -- Button Man -- in Critical Condition at UIC Hospital.

Tuesday night Clarence ‘Lil Scotty’ Scott collapsed and was brought to UIC Hospital in intensive care. He has been having chronic health problems for a long time.

Queenie Portia, his wife, said, "It looks bad. He had stopped breathing and his heart stopped. The doctors were able to bring back a heart beat. We need a miracle for him to pull through."

Professor Steve Balkin at Roosevelt University said, "Lil Scotty is a miracle. He recovered from brain surgery a while back and had a trach tube in his neck. He not only learned to talk again but he still sings really great Blues; I think he is the greatest Blues singer in Chicago. He has soul coming from his voice, his moves, and all his pores."

Balkin says further, "By his example, he teaches us to be strong, humble, and with good humor. He is extremely poor and always carries around a cart full of progressive cause buttons and attends most all the marches and protests in Chicago. He is a civil rights pioneer and was firebomb by the Klu Klux Klan in South Carolina. He is part of Occupy Chicago. He is a fixture of the streets, clubs, and fabric of Chicago – one of the last of Chicago’s great street characters. He loves to be with the people but also is proud to have sung recently for Mayor Emanuel.”

Lori ‘Lowreen’ Lewis, leader of the Maxwell Street Market Blues Band, says, “Little Scotty comes out to the New Maxwell Street Market jam most weeks health permitting, on the street when the weather is good and at Polk Street Pub. He’s always pushing his cart full of buttons supporting Obama and against gun violence. No matter how he is feeling, when he steps up on stage, he gives it his all, singing like he's got not a care nor a pain in the world. Trach be damned, he's got a Sharpie pen to block the hole and let his voice sing out! And the crowds love him. With lyrics like "Take off that wig that I bought you, let me play with your bald head," and his show-stopping delivery, how can you not love Lil Scotty? Our thoughts for recovery are with him.”

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