Mike Scott
Bio 2/5/24
Mike Scott • Born: May 14, 1962, Johnson City, Tennessee • Home Place: Watauga, Tennessee Musician (banjo, guitar, mandolin) Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Publisher, TV Host• Performing Professionally Since Age 10 •
Mike Scott celebrated 50 years in music December 2022, which impressively includes over 450 performances at the Grand Ole Opry since moving to Nashville in 1983. This national & internationally known banjo/guitar player has earned a fine reputation as a talented singer, songwriter, producer and TV host, as well as sideman from some of music’s greatest performers. His Mom & Dad bought him his first banjo for Christmas 1972 at the age of 10. He first took the stage just after three months when he started playing banjo, and was in his first band…”The Rocky Mountain Boys” just 8 months later performing the five-state area around East Tennessee. Being from the small town of Watauga, TN, nestled in the mountains of East Tennessee, his journey continues. After being offered jobs with Grand Ole Opry Stars “Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys” and “Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys” at age 15…Mike continued to perform regionally until he graduated high school in 1980 with area local bands in East Tennessee.
*55 Countries toured and performed…
*Performed over 450 Grand Ole Opry Shows
*US…Performed in Every State except Hawaii
*This schedule would include many road and air miles in cars, vans, custom buses, trains, and planes!
Ontario, Canada (1983)
Europe/UK
London, England (1983)
Novia Scotia, Canada (1984)
Ontario, Canada (1984)
Ontario, Canada (1985)
London, England (1985)
Zambia, South Africa (1985)
Malawi, South Africa (1985)
Lesotho, South Africa (1985)
Johannesburg, South Africa (1985)
Belfast, Ireland (1985)
Vianna, Austria (1985)
Zurich. Switzerland (1985)
Belfast Ireland (1985)
Jerusalem, Israel (2007)
Israel (2008)
Israel (2012)
Ontario, Canada (2008)
Osaka, Japan (2013)
Tokyo, Japan (2013)
Yokohama, Japan (2013)
Tsuri, Japan (2013)
Mt Fuji, Japan (2013)
Reed, Norway (2013)
Kolbein, Norway (2013)
cont….
Bergen, Norway (2013)
Amsterdam, Holland/ Netherlands (2013)
Nieuwkoop, Holland/ Netherlands (2013)
Edinburgh, Scotland (2013)
Guildtown, Scotland (2013)
Vancouver BC, Canada (2014)
Juno, Alaska (2014)
Ketchikan, Alaska (2014)
Glacier Bay, Alaska (2014)
Victoria, Canada (2014)
Negril, Jamaica (2017)
Rio, Mexico (2018)
London, England (2019)
Belfast Ireland (2019)
Belfast Ireland (2019)
Jaco, Costa Rica (2019)
Riviera Maya, Mexico (2021)
Cancun, Mexico (2021)
Mike Scott Bands…50th Anniversary12/25/72 to 12/25/22
“The Rocky Mountain Boys” (1972-1973)
Mike’s very first band performing five state area at major Bluegrass and Gospel events just after 3 months of starting banjo Dec 1972. 10-11 years old
“The Tennessee Bluegrass Four” (1974-1977)
Performed Central United States for three years at major Bluegrass festivals billed as “The Youngest Bluegrass band in the East” …Mike (banjo) 12 years old,...Jeff Lethcoe (guitar) 12 years old…Jerry lethcoe-(fiddle) 11 years old…and Michael Williams (upright bass) 9 years old
“The Cumberland Mountain Boys” (1978-1979)
Performing five state area, major festivals and private event…16-17 years old
“Carl Story and The Rambling Mountaineers” (1979-1982)
The “Father of Bluegrass Gospel” At age 18, the at the end of his Senior year in high school… Mike joined Carl and the band for just over two years performing 175-200 show dates per year. Touring Central and Eastern US. Band members included: Carl Story, Mitchell Moser, George Hazelwood, Tater Tate, Billy Baker, Jerry Munday
“Jim & Jesse & The Virginia Boys” (1983- 1986)
Mike joined Jim & Jesse at The Grand Ole Opry February 4, 1983 at 20 years old performing with them for nearly four years performing 240-260 show dates per year …US, Canada, Europe, & South Africa.
Band members included: Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Keith McReynolds, Allen Shelton, Steve Thomas, Vassar Clements, Jim Brock, Jim Buchanan
Mike Scott & The All American Band (1986-1990)
Mike formed his band after leaving Jim & Jesse & The Virginia Boys in 1986 performing throughout the states at Bluegrass festivals & cooperate shows. Band members included: Eddie Miller, Richard Bennett, Mike Davis, Terry Eldridge, Scott Houston, Scott Risner, Darrin Lyons, Bob Smiley, Bill Baldock, Mike Vidito, Heath VanWinkle, Scott Napier, Keith Williams, Benny Boling, Phil Ledbetter
Mike Scott “Artist” (1986-1990)
Mike had an acoustic Bluegrass & Country record deal with Randy Tallmadge (RCA) and Mike Curb (Curb Records) in 1990 & 1991 including Nashville’s top studio musicians (Carl Jackson, Stuart Duncan, Steve Turner, Gary Smith, Bruce Bouton, Emory Gordy Jr., & Brent Mason) and featuring vocals by Emmy Lou Harris and producer Carl Jackson. Mike preformed cooperate events and specialty shows touring in a custom tour bus. (1990-1991) Road Band included: Carl Jackson, Andria Zonn, Larry Paxton, Joe Manuel, Doug Jernigan, Jerry Johnson
Mike Scott (1986-1990)
Mike continued to perform as a solo artist performing his own shows as well as continually performing select Grand Ole Opry Shows and tour dates with his personal band and “Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys” and later with Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys (up to 2021) after the passing of brother Jim McReynolds 12/31/02. (1992-1998)
“Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass” / “Boots Randolph (1998- 2006)
Mike later performed from 1998- 2006 with “Big Band Legens” sensations Danny Davis and “Boot Randolph” in a ten piece band and “Vegas” style show on many select national road dates as wells as performing at their Nashville home base theater…”The Stardust Theater” on Music Valley Drive, Nashville, TN entertaining six nights per week.
“Ronnie Reno & The Reno Tradition” (2001-2019)
Mike has performed with and has been a featured Artist/Musician and Band Member in Ronnie’s band from October 2001until October 2019 as Ronnie retired from music and touring. making Mike part of the band touring & recording for 18 years touring Nationally & Internationally. You can see Mike on Ronnie’s TV show ”Reno’s Old Time Music” on RFD TV featured weekly in the host band and featured regularly on the “Super Pickers” segment of the show. Mike can be seen on nearly 70 TV shows performing with Ronnie. The show has 60 plus million Viewers.
Mike Scott & The Nashville Band…(The All-American Band) (1986-2022) (current)
currently since 1986 touring Nationally & Internationally, performing festivals, along with cooperate & private events, as well as church and family events. Mike also teaches banjo professionally at select National & International Music Workshops and collages, etc. He & his wife Brenda Marshall Scott (The Marshall family) own, operate, and manage “The Grand Inheritance/circa 1790” …a wedding & events facility/property in Gallatin, TN they purchased Sept 2001.
Mike also served as host for Rural Rhythm Records TV Show “Behind the Dream” on Blue Highways TV.
Venues & Touring & TV adding to his Career Bio include:
* CBN/Christian Broadcast Network…The 700 Club Here is my miracle testimony wherein God spared my life, not only once, but twice! This was aired on CBN's "The 700 Club" 11/16/21. Thanks to CBN for their incredible ministry and for sharing my story. Brenda & I watch CBN regularly and are blessed by their programing in both God and government!
****Testimony Story Only (5:23)
https://www1.cbn.com/deadly-low-platelet-count-has-man-praying-answers?fbclid=IwAR1PGp8eXd8oNDNMu-8FUApmudsoYTFMB4q1sBXe-r5mviIzrhQBUkD2TXk
*****Full One Hour Program (50:50)
https://www1.cbn.com/video/700club/2021/11/16/the-700-club-november-16-2021?show=700club
•Performances on BBC TV (British Broadcasting Cooperation) throughout Europe
•Voice of America (worldwide radio/Live performances), Washington, D.C.
•Grand Ole Opry Live including the Grand Ole Opry 60th Anniversary Tribute (CBS TV, Jan 1986…four performances)
•18ft photo mural of entire cast, including Mike, on display in Country Music Hall of Fame
• TNN’s “Nashville Now” (with Ralph Emery), The Nashville Network (eight performances)
• “New Country” The Nashville Network/TNN
• “Fire on The Mountain” The Nashville Network /TNN
• The General Jackson Show Boat/ Nashville, TN (30 plus performances)
• Fan Fair, Nashville, TN
• 450 performances at the Grand Ole Opry
• Country Music Hall of Fame / Nashville, TN
• Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
• Ernest Tubb Record Shop Nashville, TN
• Austin City Limits (PBS TV) “The Legends of Bluegrass” (featuring Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys, Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys and Mac Wiseman) •WWVA Jamboree, Wheeling, WV
• Grand Ole Opry, Early Bird Bluegrass Show /Radio &DJ Conventions
• The Cas Walker TV Show, WNOX, Knoxville, TN
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) TV in Europe & South Africa
• Voice of America (worldwide radio/Live performances), Washington, D.C.
•1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, TN
• Renfro Valley Barn Dance, Renfro Valley, KY
• A.P. Carter Family Fold, Hiltons, VA
• The Birchmere / Alexandria, VA
• The World-Famous Station Inn, Nashville, TN
• The Gibson Bluegrass Showcase, Nashville, TN
• David Frizzell TV show featuring Mike along with Jett Williams, Mo Bandy & Jimmy Fortune (2017)
• A Three-week three country tour of South Africa (1985) (Zambia, Lesotho, & Malawi)
•Touring throughout the US, Europe (1983 &1984) London England, Belfast Ireland, Stockholm Sweden, Frankfurt Germany, & Zurich Switzerland
• Mike has toured and performed in every providence of Canada,
• The UK…Norway, Holland, & Scotland (July 8-23,2012)
• Three tours of Israel (2007, 2008, & 2012), Israel Tour May 2007 also ....a second tour 5/13-21/2008 (Jerusalem, Nazareth, The Sea of Galilee, Tiberius, Capernaum), The Jacobs Ladder Festival Television & Radio • A third tour with my band representing the USA Headlining the Festival as “host band” for the festival’s six thousand plus attendees 5/28/2012 (Jerusalem)..Nazareth, The Sea of Galilee, Tiberius, Capernaum, The Jacobs Ladder Festival
•Mike performed an eight-day tour of Japan (Oct 2013)
•He hosts and performs on the “CHRISTMAS… THE MOUNTAIN WAY” (2012) CD/DVD featured nationally on Blue Highways TV by Rural Rhythm Records
•He was also a featured guest artist on David Frizzell's “Family and Friends” 2012 RFD TV Show.
•Blue Highways TV /As Host for Rural Rhythm's 'Behind the Dream' TV Show, Mike interviews both legendary and new generation bluegrass and country artists.
•On February 15, 2014 Mike was asked to “Host” and perform the Ernest Tubb Record Shop’s “Midnight Jamboree” in Nashville TN Live on WSM Radio for “Ernest Tubb’s 100 Anniversary Tribute”. This was Mike’s first time to host as he had performed there throughout the years nearly
thirty times with various artist and his band.
•July 2016 Mike Hosted four (4) and July13, 2017 another four (4) “Bluegrass Ridge” TV Shows which air on” Heartland TV”. These shows aired on The Family Channel, Angel Two (Dish-TV), AMG-TV, Keep It Country TV-UK/Ireland, Country TV (New Zealand), DTC Cable (check local listings) as well as other National TV outlets.
•Mike has taught banjo at LMU (Lincoln Memorial College) in Harrigot, TN for going on his seventh year…2014-2020. This “Acoustic Music Week” selects the top entertainers and musicians in their field to teach… Mike on banjo) banjo. Other classes and Instructors available are guitar, Bass, Fiddle, Mandolin, & Dobro as well as vocals and songwriting.
*Mike performed “Solo Banjo” at “The Schermerhorn Performance Concert Hall” in Nashville, TN April 9th, 2019. This venue is regarded as “the Carignane Hall” of Nashville.
*Mike toured IRELAND / LONDON & The UK September 9th-23rd, 2019 as Featured Artist on this 15-day tour along with “Stephen Rosney & The Back Axels” and Nashville Opry Fiddler Extraordinaire” Travis Wetzel. They performed 18 shows in 13 days and also did a music video…” Will The Circle Be Unbroken” Released on Keltic Country TV along with Stephen and his band as well as Mike’s wife… Brenda Marshall Scott. https://www.facebook.com/keltictv/videos/2465150070371124/
*Mike recently guest and performed January 16th, 2020 on Nashville Meets World TV Show.... with Host Cameron Wallace Tilbury “Camo” presented by Solis North Gulch Apartments. Camo interviews Mike and they talk about traditional Appalachian music, his career, why banjos are cool, playing with some of bluegrass’s biggest names, and a whole lot more. Mike plays “his instrumental version of “When Your Smiling” on the banjo and sings a gospel song he & his wife Brenda Marshall Scott wrote from Mike’s Rural Rhythm project “Take Me Lord & Use Me” which features Vince Gill on the project. The show aired throughout London, Ireland & The UK as well as “Worldwide” Wednesday 1/22/20
https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleMeetsWorld/videos/486668195374658/
*Mike recently guest and performed February 11th. 2020 on The 615 Hideaway Tv Show on RFD TV/ FB Live with special Guest Bob Minner (27 years with Country Music Star…Tin McGraw)
https://www.facebook.com/the615hideaway/videos/500982657272460/UzpfSTU4NjkyMDQ4NzoxMDE1NzAzMTc3ODI1NTQ4OA/
*Mike’s 50th Anniversary Is featured as a “cover story” in National/ Interbational magazine “Bluegrass Unlimited” …Interview/Article written by Sandy Hatley (Stanfield, NC) for the
April 2024 Magazine.
Honors
• Mike and his band were the first Acoustic Bluegrass Band to receive a full lifetime sponsorship from Gibson Instruments, USA, in 1986.
• Acoustic band of the year, Metro Music Awards, Nashville, Tennessee (Jun 1990)
• International Who’s Who in Music, Volume 2, - Popular Music, International Biographical Center, Cambridge, England (Oct 1996)
•In connection with Singing News Magazine and The Solid Gospel Radio Network, Mike was nominated as the 2011 'New Artist of the Year' by the Front Porch Fellowship Bluegrass Gospel Awards Association for his gospel project on Rural Rhythm Christian “Take Me Lord &Use Me”
•Mike’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky/Tribute to Bill Monroe project on Rural Rhythm was voted as “Roots Music Report Top 100 Bluegrass Albums of 2011”
*Mike was included in the first edition printing “Banjo Allstar” Premium Trading Cards…created by Colyn Brown/Bluegrass Trading Co….featuring the top Banjo Players throughout the world. April 2022 https://www.bluegrasstradingco.com/about/banjo-all-star-series1-premium-trading-cards
Memberships & Organizations
• American Federation of Musicians (AF of M), since 1980
• International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), since 1987
• Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
Endorsements
•Sullivan Banjos / Eric Sullivan Silver Hill, AL Mike has performed with his Artist Model Banjo nationally and Internationally, sessions and videos as well as on The Grand Ole Opry
March 2024 Mike is scheduled to release two more “Mike Scott” Signature Model banjo and is also working with Sullivan Banjos for a “one-of-a-kind” 50th Anniversary Model
*Reunion Blues Cases
*Elliott Capos
*Gibson USA
*All American Banjo Co / “Mike Scott Signature Banjo Strings” Specialty Set…11.12.13.22.11 Cryonically Treated
*Bluechip Picks….Guitar flat picks #50… and banjo thump picks MS/JD Crowe
Rural Rhythm has released four projects by Mike Scott
*****Mike Scott “BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY” A 100th Anniversary INSTRUMENTAL TRIBUTE TO BILL MONROE, (November 2011) with guests Brian Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Adam Steffey, Tim Stafford, Mike Compton, Ben Isaacs, Rob Ickes
This cd was recognized & featured by the CMA (Country Music Association) and was a National & International featured project on Sirius/XM Bluegrass & Americana Radio
*****Mike Scott “TAKE ME LORD AND USE ME” (February 2011) released on Rural Rhythm Christian. That album includes the amazing talents of: Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, Claire Lynch, Sonya Isaacs, Carl Jackson, Jesse McReynolds, Buck White, and Shelton Feazell, Jesse Cobb,
Dennis Crouch & Ferrell Stowe. Powergrass Bluegrass Gospel Radio has awarded Mike with two number one singles and 'Song of the Year.' “Since I Laid My Burdens Down” (with guest Carl Jackson, Shelton Feazell, & Sonja Isaacs) and “Jesus I’ll Never Forget” a duet with Vince Gill.
The CMA Featured Mike and his project/interview in the CMA Closeup Magazine by Robert K. Orreman
*****Mike Scott & Friends “Home Sweet Home” /Songs of The Civil War (September 2013) with guests Brian Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Adam Steffey, Tim Stafford, Ben Isaacs, Rob Ickes
*****Mike Scott & Friends “The Old Country Church” (June 2014) Rural Rhythm Christian with guests Brian Sutton, Aubrey Haynie, Adam Steffey, Ben Isaacs, Rob Ickes
MIKE SCOTT "Watuaga Miner"...New Original Audio & Video Single Released 3/27/20
Recording artist, Mike Scott, just released an original instrumental single and video honoring his grandfather, Anthon Scott who was from Mike’s hometown Watauga, Tennessee. His grandfather also played the banjo and later died of Black Lung from working in the coal mines of West Virginia and throughout the region. Most of the original props & artifacts seen in the video were the actual items that belonged to him. Videographer Stephen Rosney (Rosney Media / Ireland) came to Nashville to shoot the video and captured this deep-rooted history that Mike has from his family heritage. At the closing of the video, you see “Anthon” reading his Bible after a hard day of work in the mines. Before his passing, his
grandfather gave land for the building of a new church near the family homeplace. This is a special tribute
to Mike’s grandfather whom he has long admired but never met.
Songwriter/Publisher
Mike Scott / CMS Music
Label
CMS Records
Song Producer
Mike Scott
Recording Engineer
Buck Jarrell/ Upstairs Studio Hendersonville, TN
Studio
Original Session Date: 2/10/88
Original Session/Band
Mike Scott Banjo
Eddie Miller: Mandolin
Scott Houston: Guitar
Terry Eldridge: Upright Bass
Glen Duncan: Fiddle
Jerry Douglas: Dobro
Master Transfer
John Nicholson /Hilltop Studio 7/15/19
(Analogue to Digital-Pro Tools)
Re-mix Track/Master
Tim Carter/Treehouse Studio Ridgetop, TN 11/12/19
Mike Scott re-cut Banjo track: 11/12/19
Video Production
Stephen Rosney & Mike Scott
Coal Miner Scenes
Production shot at: The Caves at Pleasant Grove…Celina, TN
Dale Hollow Lake/Dam Reservoir on Saturday 11/16/19
Make Up
Brenda Scott
Helen Rosney
Jewel Briggs
Coal Miners
Jesse Marshall
Jim Briggs
Ron Wright (Grandfather-Anthon Scott/Watauga Miner)
Cabin Shoot
Sunday 11/17/19
Cabin Courtesy of: Brad Tuttle / Gallatin, TN
Live Cabin Shoot/Band
Mike Scott-Banjo
Heath VanWinkle-Upright Bass
Tim Carter-Mandolin
Ian O’Bryant-Dobro
Jed Clark-Guitar
Julian Pinelli-Fiddle
VIDEOS:
CBN/Christian Broadcast Network…The 700 Club Here is my miracle testimony wherein God spared my life, not only once, but twice! This was aired on CBN's "The 700 Club" 11/16/21. Thanks to CBN for their incredible ministry and for sharing my story. Brenda & I watch CBN regularly and are blessed by their programing in both God and government!
****Testimony Story Only (5:23)
https://www1.cbn.com/deadly-low-platelet-count-has-man-praying-answers?fbclid=IwAR1PGp8eXd8oNDNMu-8FUApmudsoYTFMB4q1sBXe-r5mviIzrhQBUkD2TXk
*****Full One Hour Program (50:50)
https://www1.cbn.com/video/700club/2021/11/16/the-700-club-november-16-2021?show=700club
Mike Scott "When You're Smiling" (Live Performance)
International Bluegrass Music Association / IBMA Fan Fest 9/30/12
The Nashville Convention Center/Nashville, TN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa4BVSFA1Ac&list=PLp5T5NAfd52G7g-mD6XUYRwd4BlIzu29n&index=41
Mike Scott “Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies” (Commercially Released Instrumental Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKH78C481rY&index=66&list=PLp5T5NAfd52G7g-mD6XUYRwd4BlIzu29n
Mike Scott & The Nashville Band “Lonesome Fugitive” (Live Performance)
Live at The Ernest Tubb Record Shop 650/WSM Radio 2/15/14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swGBe6CCDJo&index=80&t=0s&list=PLp5T5NAfd52G7g-mD6XUYRwd4BlIzu29n
Mike Scott "When All Is Said & Done" (Live Performance)
International Bluegrass Music Association / IBMA Fan Fest 9/30/12
The Nashville Convention Center/Nashville, TN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po3dwcY__h4&index=6&list=PLp5T5NAfd52G7g-mD6XUYRwd4BlIzu29n
Mike Scott "Dear Ole Dixie" (Live Performance)
Scottsville, KY August 15th, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuhh_nCCdas&list=PLp5T5NAfd52G7g-mD6XUYRwd4BlIzu29n&index=88
Mike Scott “Watauga Miner” (Original Video)
Released March 27th, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9s07taErwY&feature=youtu.be
Mike Scott “When All Is Said & Done” (Live Video)
Released January1st, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9s07taErwY&feature=youtu.be
