Published in the September 17, 2019 edition.
PICAYUNE, Miss. — James R. Scrivano Sr., of Chelsea, Mass., Mississippi, and the road, passed away on September 7, 2019, in Picayune, Mississippi after a short but hard fought illness.
He attended the Williams School where he was president of his class and he graduated from Chelsea High School where he made his mark as a saxophone player, playing in the school band, the German Club Band, and performing at numerous school activities. He attended Boston University where he was the only freshman invited to join the orchestra.
Known as Jimmy Vee he spent most of his life on the road. Before he was drafted he spent 26 weeks playing at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City. Jimmy was a talented saxophone player and singer and was known for playing the alto and tenor saxophones together. As the leader of bands such as Jimmy Vee and the Misfits, Jimmy Vee and the Scamps, and the Jimmy Vee Show he kept many musicians employed and booked work for them all over the country.
In the New England area over the years they played at such diverse locations as Jerome’s and the Intermission Lounge in downtown Boston, the Copa and Weylu’s on Rt.1, and John Martin’s Merry Manor in Portland, Maine. They played for the military in Greenland, on cruise ships, and in nightclubs, hotels, casinos and private venues. After retiring from the rigors of being the leader of his own group he worked with other groups and traveled throughout the south for the last several years performing with Vince Vance and the Valiants.
He leaves his wife Susan Madeline of Mississippi, his beloved children James Scrivano Jr. of Slidell, La., Melinda Scrivano Fuller and her husband Jerome of North Hampton, N.H., and Dorothy McDonald and her spouse Jody Eafrati of Manchester, N.H., and his sister Carol Scrivano Egidio and her husband Joseph of Wakefield, and his niece Nicole Egidio of Wakefield and Cambridge. He also leaves five grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, several other nieces and nephews, many cousins, and thousands of fans he entertained around the country over the years performing as Jimmy Vee.
He was the son of the late R. James and Mary (Orfaly) Scrivano. He was the brother of the late Anthony Scrivano, Margaret Viola, and Marie Bremmer.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Revere on Thursday, September 19, at 10 a.m. with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. His arrangements are in the care of Faggas Funeral Home of Watertown.
