Scott Bomar (born June 15, 1974) is a Memphis-based musician, Emmy Award-winning film composer, Grammy-nominated music producer, and recording engineer. Scott Bomar's songs are represented by
Downtown Music Publishing.
Early years
A native of
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
, Bomar was introduced to music at an early age, aided by his mother's record collection and regular exposure to Memphis' legendary musicians.
Impala
Bomar's music career began in the early 1990s. Impala, consisting of guitarist John Stivers, saxophonist Justin Thompson, drummer Jeff Goggans, and Bomar on bass, gained national prominence on the strength of their debut album, ''El Rancho Reverbo'', co-produced by
Roland Janes. They signed with Estrus Records.
Following the release of ''Kings of the Strip'', Impala toured relentlessly, appearing at a slew of garage rock festivals (including Garage Shock, Sleezefest, Crap Out, and Dixie Fried) and alongside guitar legends Dick Dale and Davie Allen and the Arrows.
Over the past decade, Impala has been featured on numerous occasions in film and on television, most notably for their arrangement of Henry Mancini's "Experiment in Terror," and
Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy (April 26, 1938 – April 30, 2024) was an American guitarist. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had a string of hit records produced by Lee Hazlewood which were noted for their characteristically "twangy" guitar sound, including ...
's "Stalkin'", as a medley, which appeared in the Chuck Barris biopic ''
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind''. The band's current lineup includes trumpeter/keyboardist, former Bobby "Blue" Bland sideman, and Bo-Keys member Marc Franklin.
In 2018 Impala released ''In the Late Hours'' on Bomar's Electraphonic Recording imprint. When premiering the song, "The Insomniac", Rolling Stone said it "...combines surf-guitar nostalgia with a minor-key, spy-movie-worthy riffage. Together, those influences form a truly unique sound, one that’s retro without lapsing into mimicry."
The Bo-Keys and Al Green
Bomar gained individual prominence playing bass for legendary Stax artists such as
Rufus and Carla Thomas,
Eddie Floyd
Eddie Lee Floyd (born June 25, 1937) is an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter, best known for his work on the Stax record label in the 1960s and 1970s, including the No. 1 R&B hit song " Knock on Wood".
Early life and education
Floy ...
,
William Bell, Sun Records pioneer
Rosco Gordon
Rosco N. Gordon III (April 10, 1928 – July 11, 2002),
sometimes billed as Roscoe Gordon, was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit songs "Booted," (1952), " No More Doggin'" (1952), and " Just a Littl ...
, and Motown session guitarist
Dennis Coffey, both in studio session and on the road.
In 1998, he formed
The Bo-Keys, a Memphis soul/funk group featuring former Stax/Volt, Hi Records and Isaac Hayes session players
Skip Pitts,
Howard Grimes
Howard Lee Grimes (August 22, 1941 – February 12, 2022) was an American drummer, best known as a member of the Hi Rhythm Section on records by Al Green, Ann Peebles and others in the 1970s.
Life and career
Born in Memphis, Tennessee on Augus ...
and Ben Cauley.
Following the success of The Bo-Keys' critically acclaimed album, ''The Royal Sessions'', Bomar was asked to serve as assistant engineer on
Al Green
Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), known professionally as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer. He is best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including " Tired of ...
's comeback album, ''I Can't Stop'', which was nominated for a Grammy in 2003. In 2005, Scott re-joined producer
Willie Mitchell to record Al Green's ''Everything's Okay''.
In 2005, The Bo-Keys performed on the film and soundtrack for ''
Hustle & Flow
''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer. The film stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who dreams of becoming a rapper. The ensemble cast includes Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Ta ...
'' as well as the Paramount/Nickelodeon animated feature ''Barnyard'', directed by Bob Oedekirk. Three years later, they appeared in the film ''
Soul Men'', performing on-screen with
Samuel L. Jackson and
Bernie Mack. The group also added three songs to the film's soundtrack (produced by Bomar), including
Anthony Hamilton's "Soul Music," which was nominated for a Grammy in 2009.
The Bo-Keys have performed at various festivals, including multiple appearances at The Ponderosa Stomp, London’s Barbican Performing Arts Centre, and Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Nights Swing Series.
Collaborations with Craig Brewer
In 2005, Bomar composed the score for
Craig Brewer's award-winning film ''
Hustle & Flow
''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer. The film stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who dreams of becoming a rapper. The ensemble cast includes Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Ta ...
''. Touted as Memphis soul meets hip hop, Bomar's work on the film has received much critical acclaim.
Bomar's collaboration with Brewer continued in 2006 when he served as Executive Music Producer and Composer for the film ''
Black Snake Moan''. In preparation for the recording process, Bomar took Brewer and lead actor
Samuel L. Jackson on a road trip through Mississippi, during which the trio met with a slew of blues musicians, working to parlay classics like "
Stackolee" and "
That Black Snake Moan" into modern sinister laments. Upon returning to the studio, Bomar enlisted musicians rooted in Memphis, including harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite, and The North Mississippi Allstars, the contemporary blues/rock group of
Jim Dickinson and his sons Luther and Cody. He was later joined by the stars of the film, Samuel L. Jackson and
Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci ( ; born February 12, 1980) is an American actress known for playing unusual characters with a dark edge. Ricci works mostly in Independent film, independent productions, but has also appeared in numerous box-office hits. She is ...
, to record songs subsequently performed on screen.
Bomar served as producer with Brewer on the MTV New Media series "$5 COVER" in 2009.
Bomar most recently composed the original score for Craig Brewer's, ''
Dolemite Is My Name''.
Recent accomplishment notes
Bomar won an Emmy for "Best Original Music" for the documentary, ''I Am a Man: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life''.
In 2010, he co-produced and engineered
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper ( ; born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Known for her distinctive image, featuring a variety of hair colors and eccentric clothing, and for her powerful four-octave vocal range;Jerome, ...
’s ''Memphis Blues'' at his Memphis studio,
Electraphonic Recording. The album spent 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Blues chart and was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.
Bomar previously served as Trustee and President of the Memphis Chapter of
NARAS
National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS), doing business as The Recording Academy, is an American Learned society, learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is widely kno ...
.
Bomar returned to film in 2010 as Producer/Composer of the soundtrack for ''Losers Take All'', which was recorded at his Electraphonic studio.
[Beifuss, John]
"Real Memphis musicians lend talents to fictional band for movie to film here"
''The Commercial Appeal
''The Commercial Appeal'' (also known as the ''Memphis Commercial Appeal'') is a daily newspaper of Memphis, Tennessee, and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is owned by the Gannett Company; its former owner, the E. W. Scripps Company, also ...
'', Memphis, 11 February 2010.
Filmography (partial)
* ''
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist'' (2024), Composer
* ''
Dolemite Is My Name'' (2019), Composer
* ''
Mississippi Grind'' (2015), Composer
* ''
Losers Take All'' (2011), Composer
* ''
I am a Man: From Memphis a Lesson in Life'' (2009), Composer and Main Title Producer for “I am a Man” // EMMY WINNER
* ''
$5 Cover: Memphis'' (2009), Producer and Composer
* ''
Soul Men'' (2008), Producer on “Private Number,” “Memphis Train,” and “Soul Music”
* ''
Gospel Hill'' (2008), Composer and Music Supervisor
* ''
Black Snake Moan'' (2006), Executive Music Producer/Composer
* ''
Barnyard: The Original Party Animals'' (2006), Producer on "Kick It"
* ''
Hustle & Flow
''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer. The film stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who dreams of becoming a rapper. The ensemble cast includes Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Ta ...
'' (2005), Composer – Original Score
* ''
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind'' (2002), Producer on "Experiment in Terror"
Discography (partial)
* Don Bryant, ''You Make Me Feel'' - Producer/Engineer/Songwriter // GRAMMY NOMINATED
*Dolemite Is My Name, ''Music From the Netflix Film'' – Artist
* Don Bryant, ''Don't Give Up On Love'' – Producer/Mixer/Songwriter // BLUES MUSIC AWARD NOMINATED
* Liz Brasher, ''Painted Image'' – Producer/Engineer
* William Bell, ''This is Where I Live'' – Songwriter // GRAMMY WINNER ‘Best Americana Album’ in 2017
* Scott Sharrard, ''Saving Grace'' – Producer/Engineer
* Cedric Burnside Project, ''Descendants of Hill Country'' – Engineer // GRAMMY NOMINATED
* John Németh, ''Memphis Grease'' – Producer and Engineer (Blue Corn Music) BLUES MUSIC AWARD WINNER – BEST SOUL BLUES ALBUM
* Robin McKelle, ''Heart of Memphis'' – Producer and Engineer (Sony/Okeh)
* The City Champs, ''The Set-Up'' – Producer and Engineer (Electraphonic Records)
* Cyndi Lauper, ''Memphis Blues'' – Producer and Engineer (Downtown Records) // GRAMMY NOMINATED
* The Bo-Keys, ''Got to Get Back !'' – Producer and Mixing (Electraphonic Records) // BLUES MUSIC AWARD NOMINATED
* The City Champs, ''The Safecracker'' – Producer and Engineer (Electraphonic Records)
* Jay Reatard, ''Watch Me Fall'' – Engineer on “I’m Watching You” (Matador Records)
* Soul Men: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Producer on “Private Number,” “Memphis Train,” and “Soul Music” (Stax/Concord Records) // GRAMMY NOMINATED
* Black Snake Moan: Music From the Motion Picture – Soundtrack Album Producer (New West Records)
* The Bo-Keys, ''The Royal Sessions'' – Producer and Mixing (Electraphonic Records) // W.C. HANDY AWARD NOMINATED
* Calvin Newborn, ''Newborn'' – Producer and Mixing (Yellowdog Records)
* Al Green, ''Everything's OK'' – Assistant Engineer (Blue Note Records) // GRAMMY NOMINATED
* Al Green, ''I Can't Stop'' – Assistant Engineer (Blue Note Records)
Other sources
* Beifuss, John. "Movie with the Memphis Sound," ''The Commercial Appeal'', 3 April 2008.
* Callaghan, Dylan. "Up and Coming Composers," ''The Hollywood Reporter'', 19 April 2005.
* Donahue, Michael. "Moan Music Man," ''The Commercial Appeal'', 21 October 2005.
* Lisle, Andria. "Sam in the Studio," ''The Memphis Flyer'', 7 September 2005.
* Lisle, Andria. "Two Worlds Collide," ''The Memphis Flyer'', 4 November 2005.
* Mehr, Bob. "South by Southwest: Tennessee Heats Up Texas," ''The Commercial Appeal'', 13 March 2008.
* Morris, Chris. "Brewer's Moan Howls North Mississippi Blues," ''The Hollywood Reporter'', 30 November 2006.
* Olsen, Mark. "Back to Memphis, This Time Making the City Moan," ''The New York Times'', 11 February 2007.
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bomar, Scott
American male composers
Living people
1974 births
Musicians from Memphis, Tennessee