Hometown Heroes Part 1: Scatman Crothers

Benjamin Sherman Crothers was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 23, 1910. He is known as a famous actor, musician, and dancer. He started his musical career at the age of 15, when he was a drummer for a speakeasy band in Terre Haute. He acquired the pseudonym "Scat Man" while auditioning for a radio station in Dayton, Ohio, in 1932. The name was given to him because of his unique version of scat singing, which consists of making the sounds of a musical instrument with only your voice. The name was later condensed to "Scatman" by Auther Godfrey.

Throughout Crother's life, he had an extensive amount of work in music, television, and film. He played the drums and piano for many bands. He played with the jazz singer Slim Gaillard and also with The Ramparts. Besides playing with various bands, Crothers also released many solo albums. He was also in many television series like Dragnet, Charlie's Angels, and to name a few. He was most popular for his voice overs though in television shows like Magnum P.I. to name a few. He was most famous for voice overs, though, in television shows like Transformers and Harlem Globetrotters. He also appeared in many films such as Meet Me at the Fair, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Shining.

For all of Scatman Crothers success in his professional life, he was also happy in his personal life. He married Helen Sullivan in 1937, and they had their one and only daughter, Donna, in 1949. Crothers had a long and productive life until it was taken on November 22, 1986, from pneumonia brought on by lung cancer. He was at the ripe age of 76, and he is buried in the Hollywood Hill Cemetery next to his wife. Crothers is another great example of a Terre Haute man who felt his dreams were too big to be pursued in this place, but the town seems to making strides in embracing its past. While out on a walk, I discovered the hometown heroes banner shown above, and also the star shown below. It seems Terre Haute is starting its own Hall of Fame by displaying its most successful "heroes" on Wabash Avenue.