Screamin' Scott Simon, Longtime Sha Na Na Keyboardist, Dies of Sinus Cancer at 75

Screamin' Scott Simon, the dynamic keyboard player for rock and roll revivalists Sha Na Na for more than 50 years, has died. He was 75.

Simon's daughter Nina, an author, announced his death on Instagram on Sept. 5, paying tribute to her dad and his love for his family.

"My dad was a rock star. Literally. A member of Sha Na Na for over 50 years. He loved early morning diners and late nights onstage. But loved his girls most of all," she wrote in an Instagram post. "Screamin' Scott Simon (1948-2024). Beloved husband, father and grandfather (Boppa)."

She continued, "Boppa often said the secret to life is tour management. I feel so grateful I got to be with him as he prepared for his final tour. It was too soon, but as always, he was right on time for the big show. I love you forever."

Simon died in Ojai, Calif. of sinus cancer while in hospice care, The New York Times reported.

The rocker and his bandmates were possibly best known for their appearance in the 1978 classic movie Grease , where they played Johnny Casino and the Gamblers at Rydell High's school dance. The group sang six songs in the film, including "Tears on My Pillow," and were nominated for a Grammy for the soundtrack.

Simon co-wrote "Sandy" for the soundtrack, taking care of lyrics while Louis St. Louis wrote the music. The forlorn love song famously got its moment in the spotlight when John Travolta 's character Danny Zuko sang it at a drive-through theater.

Known for his energetic stage presence — and even sometimes playing the piano with his feet — Simon joined Sha Na Na in 1970 just before graduating from Columbia University. He'd seen an advertisement in a campus newspaper that the group was seeking a new keyboardist, and he replaced Joe Witkin, who'd played with Sha Na Na when they performed at Woodstock the year before.

"His performance, with our musicians backing him up, and the rest of us watching, blew us away," original member Donny York told the Times. "His 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On' was a savage attack on the piano and became one of the most impactful things in our live performances."

Simon remained in the group until their final performance in 2020, and also appeared in nearly 100 episodes of The Sha Na Na Show, a syndicated variety program that aired for four seasons starting in 1977.

"Sha Na Na satisfied my collegiate dream, which was not to have to work for a living," Simon told The Kansas City Star in 1987, per the Times. "The idea was, you would do just what you liked and somehow the money would take care of itself."