Lyle Tuttle’s Legacy Remembered by Tattooist Mary Jay Scott After Death

Tuttle tattooed the “common folk” as well as celebrities such as Cher, Janis Joplin, and Joan Baez.

The tattooist who was an educator and historian also influenced others in the industry. One of those people was Mary Joy Scott, a tattooist who is recognized around the world.  Scott is employed at Ed Hardy’s Tattoo City.

Scott works near Tuttle‘s studio which bears his name in North Beach.  His death so touched her, he wrote a tribute to the legend for the Chronicle after his death.  She said:

The late Lyle Tuttle was a tattoo artist who had a significant influence on the San Francisco radical culture. He intertwined the craft of tattooing with his philosophy of freedom so cherished in the city.

Scott said she was blessed to have the ability to see Tuttle regularly in North Beach, as his shop was directly across from Ed Hardy’s Tattoo city shop. She said Tuttle was always kind and had a bad joke or crazy story ready to tell. He gave her the nickname of “future ex-wife.”

She went on to say Tuttle came into Tattoo City to talk. She asked him if he was still tattooing a lot and he responded he does one daily. She then asked if he did the one for the day and he said he did not and asked if she would like one. She responded she did and set up her station for him to use.

Tuttle tattooed is signature on her tattooing arm and completed it with the Libra zodiac. When finished she asked how much she owed him and he said nothing.  She thanked him for the generosity and the connection to tattooing past that he has kept alive.

Tuttle also worshipped the older masters of tattooing such as Brooklyn Joe Lieber, George Burchett, and the man who tattooed his bodysuit, Bert Grimm.

Tuttle told terrific stories about the people who were the trailblazers to today’s tattooing. He introduced a brand new generation to tattooing because he appeared on the Rolling Stone cover and tattooed Janis Joplin.

She said she would miss Tuttle’s friendless and love of life. He was a legend of the San Francisco tattooing and its counterculture, and the city will not be complete without him.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

Datebook: Mary Joy Scott on Lyle Tuttle’s tattoo legacy

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