Keith Scott Blues - World Blues Society (2021)

Remarkably versatile, Chicago-based blues/rock guitarist Keith Scott has been working his way methodically up through the blues' ranks since his parents bought him his first guitar at age 14 and his young ears heard Muddy Waters in 1980.

Born in White Plains, N.Y., Scott was first exposed to the music of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk Railroad. With this sonic baptism, a mind-set and foundation were established for him to explore the realm of blues inhabited by the creme de la creme of Chicago musicians such as Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed and others in that pantheon. Little did Scott know, however, that he would go on in just a few years to actually play with many of the greats of post-war Chicago blues.

As time passed and Scott became acquainted with the greats of blues through their records and performances as well as personally, the blues crept increasingly into his own guitar playing.

As his playing skills and confidence grew, so did Scott's resume. He was noticed by Hip Linkchain, who asked him to join his band in 1985 and Scott immediately traveled with Linkchain to Calgary, Alberta, Can. It wasn't long before sly businessman and wizard of the West Side blues guitar Jimmy Dawkins — a friend of Linkchain's — snapped up Scott for use in his own insanely heavy blues band. Scott's first gig with Dawkins occurred Oct. 24, 1986 when they drove to Miami Fla. to play the Tobacco Road club. Under Dawkins, Scott cut his teeth further at a fast clip, touring the United States, Canada and Europe into the early 1990s.

As concerts with Dawkins became more sporadic in the 1990s and Scott's reputation as a reliable, controlled and soulful guitar-slinger grew, Scott ventured out on his own, performing a loud and funky brand of music he perfected, labeled and plays to this day called "heavy blues."

Scott has seven solo CDs to his credit, among these, "Heavy Blues," "World Blues" and "Universal Blues." His "Tennessee Blues," released in Fall of 2011, has been reviewed favorably by Living Blues, the world's premier blues magazine. He was also reunited onstage with Dawkins at the 2010 Chicago Blues Festival in front of a crowd of thousands.