Thomas Jefferson Scott (May 28, 1912, Campbellsburg, Kentucky – August 12, 1961, New York City) was an American composer and singer.

Biography

Scott studied music at the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical ...

, after which he moved to New York City when he joined

Fred Waring Fredrick Malcolm Waring Sr. (June 9, 1900 – July 29, 1984) was an American musician, bandleader, choral director, and radio and television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to ...

's glee club. He was soon employed by the group as an arranger. In 1942, he began a successful career as a folk singer. He accompanied himself on the guitar and billed himself as "The American Troubadour". He appeared at the

Rainbow Room The Rainbow Room is a private event space on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Run by Tishman Speyer, it is among the highest venues in New York City. The Rainbow Room was design ...

and the

Cotillion Room The cotillion (also cotillon or French country dance) is a social dance, popular in 18th-century Europe and North America. Originally for four couples in square formation, it was a courtly version of an English country dance, the forerunner o ...

of the Pierre Hotel, among other venues. Garnering praise, Scott landed his own radio show, which ran for several years.New York Times, August 13, 1961
/ref> Although Scott did write some of his own folk songs, he is mostly remembered now for his classical works, and in particular his symphonic pieces, which for the most part are rooted in American folk music. His symphonic works include ''Ballad of the Harp Weaver'', ''Binorie Variations'', ''Colloquy for Strings'', ''Coney Island'', ''Fanfare and Cantilena'', ''Hornpipe and Chantey'', ''Johnny Appleseed'', ''Music for String Orchestra'', and ''Symphony No. 1''. His work ''From the Sacred Harp'' was performed and recorded in its world premiere by the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...

under the baton of

Leopold Stokowski Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British-born American conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra. H ...

. Among his other compositions are chamber music works, art songs, piano songs, the opera ''The Fisherman'' (1956), and several television and film scores. He wrote much music for plays at the Robert Herridge theater, and also wrote the music for

Ferdinand Bruckner Ferdinand Bruckner (born Theodor Tagger; 26 August 1891 – 5 December 1958) was an Austrian-German writer and theater manager. Although his works are relatively rarely revived, ''Krankheit der Jugend'' was put on at the Cottesloe stage of Lo ...

's play ''Gloriana'', which premiered on Broadway in 1938.Internet Broadway Database
/ref> Scott wrote most of the music for ''

Camera Three ''Camera Three'' was an American anthology series devoted to the arts. It began as a Sunday afternoon local program on WCBS-TV in New York and ran “for some time”Mercer, Charles, Associated Press writer, Television World column, “Obscure P ...

'', among other television shows. He married Ruth Walton and they had one daughter, Susanna Scott. He died of a heart attack in 1961.

References

External links

Tom Scott papers, 1912–1970
Music Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Portrait of Tom Scott in his collection "Sing of America"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Tom American opera composers American male opera composers 1912 births 1961 deaths 20th-century American classical musicians 20th-century American classical composers American folk singers Singers from Kentucky Songwriters from Kentucky Folk musicians from Kentucky 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male musicians American male songwriters 20th-century American songwriters da:Tom Scott