Scott Nelson

Scott Nelson knew in February of 1964 when the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sulivan Show it was time for him to get a guitar.

He began playing in bands and getting gigs as a teenager.
Nelson has been playing and working as a professional musician ever since. He has performed across the country playing his main instrument the electric bass.

Over the years of his career Nelson has seen many different phases of the music industry. As well as performing and writing music Scott has done what many other successful musicians have done and freelanced their skills.

I got a chance to ask Scott a few questions here’s what he had to say.

THE INTERVIEW:

What are some of your early musical experiences in Amarillo?
Going back to those early band days, The first band we put together that had printed posters & promotional photographs was The Dimensions Unlimited. Our mainstay gigs were The Teen Club & The Officer’s Club at the old Amarillo Air Base.

I had been playing guitar & tuba for about five years when another local band, The Underground Press asked me to play bass. I was excited because I knew they were very good, but the real treat was in finding my primary instrument, the electric bass.

It was the lining up of the planets. We later became known as The Press, becoming quite literally a concert rock band during the late sixties performing long album cut versions of songs by The Doors, Quicksilver Messenger Service & The Chambers Brothers. It was a time when music flourished and there was always an opportunity to perform.

How has it changed from then to now?
Equipment for live sound reinforcement has become infinitely more compact. Back then we carried around four giant Voice-of-the-theater speaker cabinets for house PA as well as five hundred pound Hammond C3 organs and Leslie cabinets!

It’s a different world now since bands can promote, sell product and book performances from their laptop computer. Playing music back then compared to now is kind of like the automobile market from then to now. There used to be three auto makers, now the new nameplates never seem to stop! In those days Billboard had basically three charts, Easy Listening, Top Forty & Country Music. Now the charts are so splintered I think it has a tendency to pigeon hole some artists that could find acceptance to their music in other demographics if they just weren’t stuck in the New Age charts.

Did you relocate from Amarillo? Why? When? Where?
Of course. I moved to Lubbock in 1970 playing in a group called Dynasty, playing my first real sit-down club gig at the Imperial Room. I met a lot of great musicians there and we had a house downtown. People like Joe Ely, Jesse Taylor & Jay Boy Adams would come by at all hours since we could jam 24/7 and not wake the neighbors.

I would soon make the sojourn to Austin which would turn out to be a real treat as well as my education. I wound up playing with a lot of great folks in many different situations. In the studio and live, it was very active during the seventies and I found myself in the middle of a lot of fun times playing music.

Over the years what are some of your fondest memories from playing?
The early years with The Press were great, however, in 1974 Jay Boy Adams called me to play bass. Jay was on Atlantic Records had the same manager as ZZ Top so we toured the States opening ZZ shows. I’ll never forget the Nashville stop where we played in the Speed Bowl for twenty four thousand. We opened the show, then the original pre-crash Lynrd Skynrd, then ZZ. What a gas.

There are so many. I’ve been blessed to play with great musicians from Montana to Texas, California to New York. In dives and in the most beautiful of venues.

I would have to mention playing quite a few dates in the Northwest United States with NYC jazz guitarist Joel Harrison and grammy nominated jazz pianist Mark Little during the late ninties. The other live gigs would be performing live with Los Angeles pianist/composer Jim Wilson. Since playing on his first PBS Special in 2001, we’ve played several live dates which always include some of L.A.’s best musicians as well as Amarillo’s Jay Weeks on drums.

What all do you do in music now?
I really enjoy just taking my acoustic guitar and playing solo in the small venues around town. I have also written and produced a CD of original songs called English Field, (available on my website…) Recently I’ve been producing some recordings and a music video for Stephanie Bunger (pronounced Bunjer…) who won The Amarillo Star competition sponsored by The Tri State Fair and KGNC radio last September. I have audio and video production equipment so I produce music and television ads. I just freelance.

What have been some of your most interesting studio experiences?
The Norman Petty years were great because we recorded everything from television news music to Broadway show tunes. I’ve been fortunate to play on many sessions for a wide variety of artists and projects. My biggest claim to fame is working with Norman Petty, (Buddy Holly’s producer) from early 1978 until 1984. What a treat, he treated us like kings. Lynn Williams (who played drums on all those sessions) and I were treated to the best experience you could ask for, working across the console from a producer like Norman.

What is your website and a way people can get a hold of you?
I’m online @ scottnelsonmusic.com where there is a contact Scott Page or info@scottnelsonmusic.com

Anything else you would like to add?
I’m very proud to live and work in my hometown. There really is a rich history of music and musicians that originated here in this area. Amarillo still has a wealth of artists here who are writing and performing. I’m also glad to say the attrition of young musicians coming up is also happening, ensuring that the music will live on.