Walter Scott, Velvet-Voiced Whispers Legend, Dies at 81

The Whispers pose backstage before their performance at Gardner's Basin in Atlantic City on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. From left: Leaveil Degree, Wallace Scott, Walter Scott and Nicholas Caldwell. Walter Scott, co-founder of the group, died Thursday at age 81.

Walter C. Scott Jr., whose buttery vocals alongside his identical twin Wallace anchored the iconic R&B group The Whispers for more than five decades, died Thursday in Northridge, Calif., after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 81 and surrounded by family.

Desirae L. Benson, a member of the Whispers' promotional team, confirmed Scott’s death in a statement to Soul Tracks:

We all are incredibly heartbroken. It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of Walter Scott, beloved member of the legendary R&B group The Whispers,” Benson said. “His voice, presence, and contributions helped shape a musical legacy that touched millions. Walter’s impact on the industry and in the hearts of fans will never be forgotten. 

Formed in Los Angeles in 1963, The Whispers — originally Walter and Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson, and Gordy Harmon — became one of the most celebrated vocal groups of their era. Their string of hits spanned decades, with “And the Beat Goes On,” “Lady,” “It’s a Love Thing,” and “Rock Steady” defining R&B radio in the 1980s.

Over their career, The Whispers earned 15 top 10 R&B singles, two R&B No. 1 albums ("The Whispers" and "Love Is Where You Find It"), and widespread acclaim for their smooth choreography and timeless harmonies.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1944, Walter Scott moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he and his brother first began performing. The group relocated briefly to San Francisco in the mid-’60s to sharpen their live act. Walter was drafted into military service in Vietnam and rejoined The Whispers in 1969. The group gained momentum in the late ’70s after signing to Dick Griffey’s Solar Records, beginning a golden era of hits that kept them on the charts and touring through the 2000s.

Harmon was replaced in 1973 by Leaveil Degree following a vocal injury. Hutson died in 2000, Caldwell in 2016, and Harmon in 2023. The Whispers were inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2014.

Walter Scott is survived by his wife, Jan, two sons, three grandchildren, and his brother Wallace.

Watch: Living Colour Electrifies for Tiny Desk’s Black Music Month Tribute

Living Colour performs at NPR’s Tiny Desk in Washington, D.C., in a June 2025 concert celebrating the 35th anniversary of their landmark album Time’s Up. From left: Vernon Reid, Will Calhoun, Corey Glover and Doug Wimbish. (Screengrab via YouTube)

Living Colour didn’t just play behind NPR’s Tiny Desk. They detonated it.

The pioneering Black rock band delivered a searing, soul-baring performance that honored the 35th anniversary of their landmark album "Time’s Up," shook the walls of NPR’s headquarters, and reminded the world that rock, rage, and revolution still live in Black music.

Opening with their 1988 breakout “Cult of Personality” — the Grammy-winning anthem that made political theory scream — Living Colour set the tone with Corey Glover’s full-throttle vocals, Vernon Reid’s sonic sleight of hand on guitar, and a rhythm section powered by Doug Wimbish and Will Calhoun that hit like a fist through drywall.

But this wasn’t just nostalgia. It was history, fury, and deep musicianship in tight quarters.

With every song, Living Colour layered commentary on race, identity, media, and systemic distortion. “Pride” challenged American hypocrisy, “Love Rears Its Ugly Head” dissected relationship chaos and self-destruction, and “Solace of You” offered a melodic sanctuary in a world that often seeks to erase Black voice and story. Reid shouted out D.C. legends Bad Brains before launching into a blistering “Time’s Up,” turning NPR’s quiet corner into a temple of electric urgency.

“History’s a lie that they teach you in school,” Glover sang in “Pride,” over Calhoun’s tight beat. “A peaceful land that was born and civilized was robbed of its history, freedom, and pride.” It hit like gospel wrapped in punk.

The band used every inch of the stripped-down space to deliver something bigger than volume: meaning. Even with amps turned down and stage lights off, Living Colour glowed — a reminder that Tiny Desk’s size doesn’t limit the size of its message.

During their set, Glover took a moment to reflect on Black Music Month and the losses the culture has endured. “We lost Roberta Flack, we lost so many,” he said. “This song really speaks to that.”

By the end of “Solace of You,” the room didn’t just cheer — it exhaled. For Black rock fans, it was church. For everyone else, it was a lesson in what the genre has always owed to Black artists.

Watch the entire performance below.

Combs Declines to Testify as His Legal Team Concludes Case in Sex Trafficking Trial

Combs declined to testify in his own defense, telling the judge: “I’m doing great, your honor.”

More than six weeks after federal prosecutors began laying out their case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, the defense has rested. In a Manhattan courtroom that has riveted the entertainment industry, the hip-hop mogul opted not to testify in his own defense as attorneys made a final push to sway the jury.

After calling 34 witnesses, the government rested its case Tuesday morning. What followed was a Rule 29 motion for judgment of acquittal by Combs’ defense, a standard legal maneuver arguing that the prosecution failed to meet its burden. Judge Arun Subramanian has reserved ruling on the motion, meaning the case will proceed to the jury.

Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued that the government did not prove the racketeering conspiracy charge or the sex trafficking counts tied to Cassie Ventura and an accuser identified as Jane. She claimed the prosecution failed to establish that Combs coerced anyone or conspired with staff to facilitate crimes. "There’s, at best, thin proof," Shapiro told the court. She added that Combs "took steps to conceal the nature of the sexual activity he was engaging in" from his own employees.

Text messages between Ventura and Combs, read into the record by the defense, painted a picture of a complicated, at times consensual relationship. In messages from 2012 to 2017, Ventura expressed affection for Combs, referenced sexually charged plans like "freak offs," and in one instance joked about getting high before participating. The defense also introduced stipulations noting that several prosecution witnesses— including Dawn Richard, Mia, and Bryana Bongolan — initially failed to report key allegations during interviews with investigators.

While prosecutors chose not to present a rebuttal case, they did argue against the Rule 29 motion. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said the record is more than sufficient to let the jury decide, citing evidence of travel arrangements, payments, and video footage linking Combs to the alleged crimes.

Judge Subramanian addressed Combs directly, confirming his decision not to testify. "I’m doing great, your honor," Combs said, thanking the judge for his handling of the case.

The jury will return Thursday for closing arguments after a scheduled break Wednesday. Deliberations are expected to begin Monday.