'I'm The Scatman': How Scatman John Turned His Severe Stutter Into His Success

October 23, 2025

If you lived in the ’90s, you probably remember the wildly catchy tune “Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop).”

The song topped charts in more than ten countries back in 1995 — but what most people don’t know is the incredible story behind it.

The man behind the music, John Paul Larkin, better known as Scatman John, had a severe stutter throughout his life. Instead of letting it hold him back, he turned it into his greatest strength.

In this short video, Scatman John shares how he transformed his stutter into the signature scat style that made him a global sensation.

It’s a powerful reminder that our biggest challenges can become the very things that make us shine. Here's the song in case you want to

Here’s the classic hit in case you want to relive it!