Chelsea Community Church honors Piano Bar legend Jerry Scott
Sunday, November 15 at St. Peter’s Church
Chelsea Community Church will celebrate the life and legacy of award-winning entertainer Jerry Scott whose music, artistry and welcoming personality helped make piano bars an all-important cornerstone and refuge for self-expression in New York nightlife. Conceived as a special remembrance of beloved piano bar musician Jerry Scott, A PIANO BAR CELEBRATION will be presented on Sunday, November 15 at 1pm. It will be followed by two hours of real piano bar singing accompanied on the beautiful Baldwin baby grand at St. Peter’s Church (346 West 20th Street).
A PIANO BAR CELEBRATION will also feature guest speaker Sidney Myer, a legend in the piano bar community
For four decades—from the 1970s until his untimely death in 2013—pianist-singer Jerry Scott brought extraordinary musical talent, exuberant showmanship and an unmistakable spirit of welcoming to New York City’s piano bars, cabaret rooms, restaurants and nightspots. His range was extraordinary: a repertoire of more than 2,000 songs over a multitude of styes and genres, from pop standards and Broadway show tunes to operetta and ragtime, and he made it all look completely effortless. Scott was so acclaimed that his flamboyant piano runs and larger-than-life performances drew comparisons to fellow legends Liberace and Peter Allen.
But Jerry Scott’s legacy extends far beyond “the music of the night,” and this is why he will be honored. Scott created a safe haven for many; he elevated the piano bar as a place where people could come together, express themselves freely and find acceptance. Scott shone a spotlight on the opportunity to be different, to be authentic and to be celebrated for exactly who you are. He made it clear that piano bars were not just places to hear a great song. They were much more: gathering places for individuality, community and freedom.
Scott's extraordinary musicianship, generous spirit and uninhibited performance style made him a star in the New York entertainment world. He understood the unique relationship between a pianist and an audience; he was a master at turning a room full of strangers into a community.
Fresh from his home state of Pennsylvania, Scott hit Manhattan at The Candy Store as 1960s culture was melding into the 1970s, working alongside fellow pianists including the long-established Houston Allred and the burgeoning Steve Ross. As Scott’s own fame grew, he went on to perform at a range of A-list Manhattan venues such as the Regency Hotel, Nickel’s Steak House, The Painted Pony, East Five Three, Waverly/Waverly, Oh Johnny, Tatou, Rhapsody, Ruby Fruit, One Potato, Nino’s Tuscany, Catarina’s, Butler’s, Danny’s, Parnell’s and many others. His artistry earned him 12 Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) Awards, a Bistro Award, a Critics’ Choice Award and multiple Entertainer of the Year honors from various sources.
He not only brought joy and goodwill to the rooms he played, but for many years he was a congregant of Chelsea Community Church. Jerry Scott’s music lives on in the memories of those who heard him play—and beyond in the continuing tradition of piano bars where individuality is openly and joyously celebrated.
Sidney Myer of Don’t Tell Mama is a legendary talent scout, mentor, and champion of New York City’s piano bar tradition. Through his dedication to piano bar and open mic, he has helped create a welcoming home for aspiring performers, seasoned professionals, and singers discovering their voices. His support of emerging talent and his commitment to the intimate, spontaneous magic of live performance have made him an important figure in the cabaret community. At Don’t Tell Mama, the piano bar and open mic are more than entertainment—they are essential gathering places where artists connect, grow, and keep the spirit of cabaret alive.
A PIANO BAR CELEBRATION currently has 12 open mic moments in the program. Anyone who is interested in taking part, please send a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Founded in 1975, Chelsea Community Church is a unique non-denominational Christian congregation in New York City that welcomes people of all faiths—and of uncertain faith. Members come from diverse backgrounds and traditions, but share a common desire to question, to seek, and to grow together in a community grounded in compassion, openness, and mutual support. They welcome a range of theological viewpoints and believe that our spiritual search is more meaningful when shared.
For more information, visit www.chelseacommunitychurch.org