Introduction
James Darrell Scott, known as Darrell Scott (born August 6, 1959), is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. The son of musician Wayne Scott, he moved as a child to East Gary, Indiana (known today as Lake Station, Indiana). He was playing professionally by his teens in Southern California. Later, Darrell moved to Toronto then Boston. He attended Tufts University, where he studied poetry and literature. He has lived in Nashville, Tennessee since about 1995. He has written several mainstream country hits, and he has also established himself as one of Nashville's premier session instrumentalists. His younger brother, David Scott, occasionally accompanies Darrell on the keyboard.
Musical career
Scott has collaborated with Steve Earle, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, John Cowan, Verlon Thompson, Guy Clark, Tim O'Brien, Kate Rusby, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Mary Gauthier, and many others. His unique music has attracted a growing fanbase, and he tours regularly with his own band. His latest album, Crooked Road, was released May 25, 2010. In early 2005, Scott's Theatre Of The Unheard won in The 4th Annual Independent Music Awards for Album of the Year.
He won the 2007 Song of the Year award from the Americana Music Association for his song "Hank William's Ghost" which appears on his album The Invisible Man released in 2006.
In 2010, he was announced as part of the Band of Joy, alongside Robert Plant, credited as performing vocals, mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedal, lap steel and banjo.
In 2010, Brad Paisley's cover of the song "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" was the closing song played on the TV drama Justified during the final scene of the final episode of the first season. It was used again in the final episode of the second season. The fourth season's final episode used a version by Dave Alvin. The fifth season's final episode used a version by the Ruby Friedman Orchestra. The final episode of the series featured the original composition by Darrell Scott himself.
In January 2011, his album A Crooked Road won the award for the Country Album category from The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards.
Songs by Darrell Scott covered by other musicians
- "It's a Great Day to Be Alive" - Travis Tritt, Cory Morrow
- "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" - Brad Paisley, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, Red Molly, Dave Alvin, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Maxida Märak and Downhill Bluegrass Band
- "Long Time Gone" - Dixie Chicks
- "We've Got Nothing But Love to Prove" - Faith Hill
- "Proving You Wrong" - Keb' Mo'
- "Out In The Parking Lot" - Guy Clark, Brad Paisley with Alan Jackson
- "River Take Me" - Sam Bush
- "Heartbreak Town" - Dixie Chicks
- "Head South" - Robinella
- "Family Tree" - Darryl Worley
- "With A Memory Like Mine" - John Cowan, Mountain Heart
- "Love's Not Through With Me Yet" - Johnsmith
- "Daddy Lessons" - Beyoncé (remix with Dixie Chicks sampled Long Time Gone)
Singles composed with others
- "Born to Fly" - Sara Evans
Discography
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Heat |
US Folk |
US Grass |
||
| 1997 | Aloha From Nashville | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | Family Tree | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | Real Time (with Tim O'Brien) | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | Theatre of the Unheard | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | Live in NC (with Danny Thompson and Kenny Malone) | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | The Invisible Man | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | Modern Hymns | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | A Crooked Road | — | 32 | 13 | — |
| 2012 | Long Ride Home | 55 | 22 | 14 | — |
| Live: We're Usually a Lot Better Than This (with Tim O'Brien) |
64 | 35 | — | 3 | |
| 2013 | Memories and Moments (with Tim O'Brien) | 36 | 9 | 13 | 2 |
| 2015 | Ten: Songs of Ben Bullington | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Couchville Sessions | 41 | 24 | 21 | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Awards
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James McMurtry |
AMA Song of the Year (Songwriter) 2007 |
Succeeded by Hayes Carll & Brian Keane |