Screamin’ Scott Simon, who spent 52 years because the pianist of the energetic rock ’n’ roll and doo-wop group Sha Na Na, died Thursday in Ojai after an extended battle with sinus most cancers, his daughter Nina Simon introduced. He was 75.

A member of Sha Na Na from 1970 till they stop touring in 2022, Simon generally performed the piano together with his ft as he belted out such hits as Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and Danny & the Juniors’ “At the Hop.”

Simon and Sha Na Na carried out within the 1978 movie adaptation of Grease as “Johnny Casino and the Gamblers,” enjoying six doo-wop numbers in the highschool dance scenes.

Meanwhile, Simon partnered with Louis St. Louis to put in writing “Sandy,” sung by John Travolta. The movie’s soundtrack went on to turn out to be one of many high albums of all time, with gross sales of greater than 30 million copies.

With the 1977 premiere of The Sha Na Na Show, Simon moved to Los Angeles and appeared on all 97 episodes of the 30-minute syndicated selection program over 4 seasons. The band welcomed such visitor stars as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, James (*75*) and the Ramones.

And on tour, Sha Na Na carried out with acts together with John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Steve Martin, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.

Born on Dec. 9, 1948, in Kansas City, Missouri, Simon was a multisport athlete and energetic in United Synagogue Youth, a nationwide group of Conservative Jewish youngsters. He performed in jug bands, based a jazz quartet, tried his hand at composing and did tune parodies, like turning Van Morrison’s “Gloria” into “Toriah.”

He moved to New York City to attend Columbia University — the place a classmate nicknamed him “Screamin’ Scott” — in 1966 and fronted a blues band known as The Royal Pythons.

In 1970, he answered an advert within the Columbia newspaper about a gap for a piano participant and guitarist in a campus doo-wop group. Sha Na Na had instantly preceded Jimi Hendrix onstage at Woodstock in 1969 but was nonetheless comparatively unknown. After Simon graduated, he got here aboard as its keyboardist and eventual managing accomplice.

While Sha Na Na primarily performed traditional ’50s and ’60s songs, Simon composed a number of songs and solo albums carried out by the band and by himself on data and on TV.

In addition to his daughter, survivors embrace his spouse, Deborah; one other daughter, Morgan; stepson Nick; and granddaughters Rocket and Naomi.

This article was initially revealed by The Hollywood Reporter.