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Scott, Tom (19 May 1948-Present)

Clarinetist, composer, conductor, flautist, and saxophonist who was born into a musical family and picked up the clarinet at the age of eight.  His father, film and television composer, Nathan Jones, encouraged him to cut his teeth on the clarinet before attempting the saxophone.

Eventually, Tom graduated to a soprano saxophone, then alto, and finally his instrument of choice, the tenor sax.  He played in all the school bands and was a member of a jazz ensemble as a sophomore in high school.  Upon graduation in February 1966, he signed up for the Air National Guard and played in the Air Force Band until 1971. Then, he enrolled in the University of Southern California and studied there for a year until work beckoned.

He got his foot in the door by being the first musician armed with an amplified flute and echoplex.  Soon enough, producers got wind of his sax playing, pun intended.

He has recorded with an encyclopedia of artists and groups too numerous to list in its entirety, but which includes Oleta Adams, Herb Alpert, Eric Andersen, Hoyt Axton, Joan Baez, Blondie, Glen Campbell, Ray Charles, Stanley Clarke, Dr. John, Dan Fogelberg, The Guess Who, George Harrison, James Ingram, Paul M. Jackson, Jr., Leah Kunkel, The London Symphony Orchestra, The Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, Sir Paul McCartney, Mike Melvoin, Olivia Newton-John, Claus Ogerman, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Lalo Schifrin, J.D. Souther, Shotgun, Ben Sidran, Frank Sinatra, Ringo Starr, Toto, Sarah Vaughan, and Nancy Wilson.

In 1973, he co-founded the fusion outfit L.A. Express who recorded and toured with Joni Mitchell.

Other recordings Tom has contributed memorable saxophone solos to include Wings’ “Listen to What the Man Said”, Rod Stewart’s “Do You Think I’m Sexy?” and Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love For You”.

He eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and scored some films, including Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Stir Crazy, and television shows, including BarettaBarnaby JonesCannonFamily TiesStarsky & Hutch, and The Streets of San Francisco.

In addition to his myriad collaborations, he has also enjoyed a successful solo career, recording albums in five consecutive decades, most recently 2006’s BeBop United and The Very Best of Tom Scott.

He has also acted as the musical director for the Academy Awards and Emmy Awards and has fun playing on the soundtracks of American Dad and The Family Guy, and provides pre-records for American Idol, on which he appeared with Standing in the Shadows of Motown.  (He can be seen in the band’s eponymous rock-doc.)

Tom makes his home in the Hatchpee Mountains when he’s not in L.A.  His latest CD, Cannon Re-Loaded:  A Tribute to Cannonball Adderley, was released in  2008.

Sources:

  1. http://www.tomscottmusic.com/
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Scott_(musician)
  3. http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/appears/0,,490793,00.html
  4. http://hardbop.tripod.com/tscott.html
  5. http://www.saxshed.com/tomscott.shtml