Darrell Scott profile picture

Darrell Scott

Everything's A-OK in the USA, in the Goodle USA

About Me


Darrell Scott is a powerful musical spirit. A Grammy-nominated artist, an award-winning songwriter, and a first-call session musician, living and working (literally and figuratively) on the fringes of Nashvilles Music Row, Scott occupies his own unique half-acre in this citys crowded musical landscape. In a town thats got pigeonholing down to an art, Darrell Scott stands out as a refreshingly mischievous artist.

Scott is a master of both the infectious, Southern-Rock riff, and of the instruments that bring them to life. His songs are propelled by his knack for blending tradition-soaked hooks with personal, contemporary lyrics. On The Invisible Man, Scotts sixth album, Scott explores themes of love, family, and the joys and pitfalls of the artists life. And if the singer sounds a little politicized on songs like Im Nobody and Goodle, USA (which, in a lyrically sanitized version, is covered by Faith Hill on her latest release), there are good reasons.

There were times when I got up on a soapbox on this record, he says. But I think were living in the weirdest time of my lifetime, and Im going to say something about it.

From his earliest days in Nashville, Scott the instrumentalist gravitated toward the best, with singers like John Cowan, pickers like Sam Bush, and songwriters like Guy Clark employing his utilitarian string-slinging skills.

Playing with Sam or trying to sing with Cowan is a really cool thing to do, Scott says. And if youre going to play to support a song, can it get better than supporting a Guy Clark song? Darrell co-produced two Guy Clark albums Cold Dog Soup and The Dark. Also, Darrell is currently an active member of Steve Earles Bluegrass Dukes.

With gigs paying the bills, Scott pursued his solo career, recording two projects (1997s Aloha From Nashville and 1999s Family Tree) and a duet album, Real Time, with bluegrass stalwart Tim OBrien. That album included the Grammy-nominated instrumental, The Second Mouse, and the Grammy-winning song, Long Time Gone.

It wasnt long before Scotts songs started to jump off those albums and onto the charts. Scott became one of Nashvilles most decorated songwriters. He was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 2001 and ASCAPs Songwriter of the Year in 2002. Im like the folksinger who wins the lottery, he says. I know the fortunes of having songs make some money, and Im trying to throw it back into music.

When putting his own records together, Scott calls on the cream of the crop. The recording roots of The Invisible Man go back to his powerful release, the critically acclaimed Theatre of the Unheard which won 2005 Album of the Year with the Independent Music Awards, and was listed as one of the 2003 Critics Top Albums by Rolling Stone Magazine. The bulk of The Invisible Man was recorded live in Scotts home studio, utilizing his familiar core group of players, including the rhythm section of world-class bassist Danny Thompson (Richard Thompson, Rod Stewart) and legendary drummer Kenny Malone (JJ Cale, Johnny Cash). Helping to flesh out the new records more ambitious soundscapes are guitarist Richard Bennett (Emmylou Harris, Mark Knopfler), pedal steel & electric guitar wizard Dan Dugmore, John Cowan and Sam Bush from the New Grass Revival, keyboardist Gabe Dixon (Paul McCartney), and spoken word artist Minton Sparks. The Invisible Man was mixed by multiple Grammy-winning engineer Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss & John Prine.)

Were not making music to be music later, Scott says of The Invisible Man sessions. Its going to be music right now. This song is going to be pulled off now. To me, the breakthrough was getting my friends together and my friends are some of the greatest musicians around and making it like, no big deal.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/2/2005
Band Website: darrellscott.com
Band Members: DS


The Invisible Man
(2006)


Live in NC
with Danny Thompson & Kenny Malone
(2004)


Theatre of the Unheard
(2003)


Real Time
with Tim O'Brien
(2000)

Also available from Sugar Hill Records:


Family Tree
(1999)


Aloha From Nashville
(1997)



:


His playing is unreal. Hes just limitless in his approach and knowledge of instruments. -Sam Bush

He is one of the great writers of our time. -The Dixie Chicks

As an instrumentalist and vocalist he had no limits. -Tim OBrien

Hes as great a story teller as Harry Chapin. -Maverick

I respect him and admire him in the same way I admire Guy Clark, Steve Earle and Mark Knopfler. -Rodney Crowell


Record Label: FULL LIGHT RECORDS
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Americana Newsletter

"My friends at Songlines will soon offer a new monthly Americana e-newsletter! It'll be chock-full of information about some of your favorite artists, and will contain videos, ringtones, podcasts, and...
Posted by Darrell Scott on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:25:00 PST

New album in stores right now...

Here's what you're missing if you haven't picked  up The Invisible Man yet... The bulk of The Invisible Man was recorded live in Scotts home studio, utilizing his familiar core group of players, ...
Posted by Darrell Scott on Thu, 13 Jul 2006 02:41:00 PST

Pre-orders and free banjo contest on website.

To Pre-order Darrell's new album, The Invisible Man, or to enter his contest to win a free banjo, please visit Darrell's website. Thanks! FULL LIGHT RECORDS...
Posted by Darrell Scott on Fri, 09 Jun 2006 09:12:00 PST

back in the ussa

i made it back from amsterdam----great trip---- it was the first travel in years that was not music/gig oriented (no guitar cases to lug)---- just walking biking drinking eating and hanging with a fri...
Posted by Darrell Scott on Thu, 11 May 2006 02:57:00 PST

merlefest and beyond

i had a great merlefest----got to play a lot from the new record (the invisible man) and folks were open to it---- also got to introduce my dad, wayne scott, to merlefest--- i was so busy, i saw no m...
Posted by Darrell Scott on Tue, 09 May 2006 10:03:00 PST