Scott grew up in
St. Louis,
Missouri. He was a drummer and singer in a few high school bands, notably The London Globe, Soul and The Reactions and Cole and The Embers. He bought his first set of drums in 1964 from
Mel Bay. After high school, Scott went to
California and studied at
USC. It was there while performing the part of Cousin Kevin in the rock opera
Tommy that he met musicians who became the
folk-rock band Voices. Voices played gigs all over campus, coffee houses, and later at the
Starwood on the
Sunset Strip. Scott served as their self-taught producer, engineer, mixer, and roadie. Voices secured a record deal with
MGM Records and were on their way to stardom when their crooked manager absconded with their advance money. After graduation, the band broke up and Scott became a
geologist. After five years as a geologist, Scott returned to the music business. == Record Plant years ==