Hazel Dorothy Scott was born on June 11, 1920, in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. She was the only child born to a West-African scholar father and a classically-trained pianist and music teacher for a mother. Having a pianist as a mother, Scott was introduced to the piano at the tender age of 3. Over the years she grew talented in the ability to play the piano by ear.
At the age of 8, Hazel auditioned at the Juilliard School. One of the requirements to be admitted is that you had to be 16 years. However, Hazel and her mother did not let this deter them. Hazel was granted access to perform despite her age, giving such a mind-blowing performance that she was granted not only acceptance, but also a scholarship.
By age 20, Hazel’s career skyrocketed. She released her debut album “Swinging the Classics”. Although she loved music, she never forgot who she was and so she fought for her rights and the rights of Blacks.