Scott Simon is driving around Los Angeles on the hunt for chametz. It’s a few days before the start of Passover and Simon, better known as Screamin’ Scott Simon of the legendary band Sha Na Na, wouldn’t mind a nice glazed doughnut. Not that he has anything against Passover cuisine. “I like a good charoset and gefilte fish, but how much brisket can you eat?” he asks.

Simon grew up in a Jewish home in Kansas City, where as a teen he had a “high-ranking position” in the regional USY chapter. When asked about the particulars, he divulges that his fondest memory of that time was smooching a certain girl who shall remain nameless. Elaine Wernick, an ad sales representative at the Jewish Light and contemporary of Simon’s who attended those USY events, remembers him as super smart, charismatic and very funny.

“He was one of those people who you knew then would really make something of himself,” she said.

Indeed. Right before graduating from Columbia University in 1970, Simon joined Sha Na Na after its historic turn playing Woodstock. Appearing on stage as if they raided Elvis’ and Fonzie’s closets, band members dressed in gold lame and leather jackets to complement the early rock and roll their music celebrated. In the 45 years that Sha Na Na has been around, about as many musicians have done at least a short stint in the band. 

Today, Simon, who sings and plays the keyboard and guitar, is considered one of the band’s three “original members,” along with Donny York and Jocko Marcellino. The three were part of the Sha Na Na that appeared in the movie “Grease” and had their own syndicated television show from 1977 to 1981.  And the three, as part of Sha Na Na’s current seven-member line-up (the original group had 12), will be performing at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts at Lindenwood University on April 6.

What follows is part of a wide-ranging conversation with Simon, who is as sweet-hearted and forthcoming as he is ascerbic. The father of two daughters, he will become a grandfather for the first time this summer. Despite turning 65 in December, he continues to live the adage, “you’re never too old to rock and roll.”

You grew up in Kansas City, lived in New York and now live in LA. Do you ever miss the Midwest?

Yes, but I come back and then I don’t miss it.

Will you visit Kansas City after your concert at Lindenwood?

I plan to visit my first cousins and eat barbecue at the original Arthur Bryant’s and not any other one. If I find myself in Johnson County I may have to settle for Gates.

Looking back on your career, is there one highlight? 

When I wrote the song “Sandy,” which John Travolta wound up singing in movie “Grease.” That was pretty good.

What about a lowlight? 

1976. We had played out the rock circuit, and we were fading away. Then we got our TV show and the movie “Grease,” which rejuvenated everything. We started selling out auditoriums again like Kiel, where basketball teams played. 

Speaking of Kiel, what are your clearest memories of St. Louis?

Growing up listening to Harry Caray and Joe Garagiola broadcast the Cardinals games. The Kansas City Royals sucked and the Cardinals were great. 

What’s still left on your bucket list? 

I first have to get a bucket. 

What can audiences expect when you play at Lindenwood?

They can expect a celebration and a participatory, interactive opportunity to dance the dances of the ’50s and ’60s and sing the songs of the ’50s and ’60s. It’s the great music engrained in their DNA. They will hear the songs from “Grease” we made famous, songs we played at Woodstock, from our TV shows, all the songs that belong to them. We are recreating them, trying to sound like the record and not trying to improve on the record. But visually we have fun with the songs and with our audience. It’s all about good clean fun. We don’t say f— or a——- or s— or b—– or b——. We don’t use any of that language.

How many shows do you play a year?

Normally about 20 weekends a year.

Are you the only Jewish member of the group? 

Our drummer, Paul Kimbarow, is from the Bronx. You don’t get more Jewish than from the Bronx. We did a rockin’ version of the dreidel song (called “The Rockin’ Dreidel Song”).

Are you still writing music?

Not as much as I was 10 years ago. I had a side group called Eddie “Hong Kong” Tailor and the Prom Kings. It was boomer humor – we’d perform once a month at a coffee shop and do songs like “Backache Blues” and “Empty Nesters,” about kids going off to college. I produced a CD that was a million seller. I have a million in my cellar. 

Are there any performers today you admire? 

I hate everyone else in music. If it weren’t for them we’d have more work.

For more information about Sha Na Na’s performance at Lindenwood, call 636-949-4433. Tickets range from $22.50 to $40.50.