On pace to graduate from high school a year early, Scott
Gates eagerly awaits his diploma, opting not to walk with his class, but
instead to take the show on the road, bringing the Nathan
McEuen and Scott Gates sound through several of the United States of
America. Having lead his own band, Pacific Ocean Bluegrass through three years
of festivals, house concerts, street fairs and more, Scott placed his band on
hiatus, soon to join forces with The
Nathan McEuen Band. The Huck Finn Jubilee of 2008 was icing on the
cake. Scott's band was playing showcases; Nathan's band was playing Stage
2. Nathan eyed Scott in his audience and asked him to play.
The next day, Nathan's dad, John McEuen,
had both Nathan and Scott play with him during his solo portion of the Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band show, and then with the Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band. The audience loved Nathan and Scott together,
winning them a place of their own on the main stage at the
2009 Huck Finn Jubilee. Since, Scott has become a core member of the Nathan
McEuen Band, touring the States; playing often with John McEuen; playing on the
Ellen Show with Steve Martin; and meeting a number of amazing musicians from
whom he has had the opportunities to learn; with whom he has had the
opportunities to make music.
Scott was born late July 1992; he showed an interest in music at three years
old. Before he was six, he was playing the Bach Minuets on the piano,
keeping time by knocking his feet together as they couldn't yet reach the
floor. At just short of eight years old, Scott became interested in the
mandolin, having heard it played Italian style by his grandfather, and bluegrass
style at Disneyland. He began on the old country style round back mandolin
playing Italian folk style music on an instrument co-worker of his
father's had "hanging around", soon switching to bluegrass and
classical styles. Specifically looking for a Florentine style mandolin,
with a tobacco sunburst design on the front, a client of his father's
offered to sell his 30 year old Ibanez, which had lived safely within it's
strong case, in the back of a closet all those years. Scott took one
look and had to have it. The first autograph he obtained on that mandolin
was of his grandfather, Marco Manzo, then Evan Marshall and Chris Thile. Later
Dawg Grisman, Mike Marshall, and many others. At age nine, Scott began his
quest for a better instrument. It seemed no matter how many hundreds of
mandolins he played, he could not find the precise sound he was looking
for. Something which would work for bluegrass and folk, yet also for
classical. He knew the sound he was waiting to hear, though others could
not comprehend his passion.
Age 11, Strawberry Festival, Camp Mather, between running around with
new-found friends from pond to swimming pool; from frogs and leaches and snakes
on over to the Michael Lewis Instruments booth to play that one special mandolin
one more time. "Mom", he approached his mother with an air of
solace, "I want to show you something. Well, I don't know...it's...
okay, never mind....Well, yes, I'd like to show you." He lead
his mom into the luthier's booth, picked up a certain mandolin, and played it
for her. He played everything he knew. Everything sounded great to his
ear.
She knew they couldn't afford such an instrument, but on a wing and a prayer,
approached the maker and discussed the possibilities. "Cash, check or
charge," he told her. How does a mother explain the inability to
provide the desire of the heart of her youngest child? "It is not a
toy," the maker explained. She knew only God could provide a way for
this one, so she prayed the desires of her young one's heart. Two weeks
later, the mandolin was in the hands of this 11 year old boy, who played it on
stage the first time, the same day, thanks to the heart of Michael
Lewis, luthier, who allowed for circumstances of a family, and trusted
the payments would faithfully come.
In the earlier years, Scott took First Place in several mandolin competitions
at festivals and conventions throughout California, placing Second against
all adult players at one, and was featured on America's Most Talented Kids
at age 12. He attended many bluegrass camps, classical mandolin
conventions, and folk festivals. He took direction from several different
mandolin masters enabling him to create his own unique sound. Scott attributes
his clarity and dexterity to the training he received from Mr.
Evan J. Marshall. Also see Scott's Myspace.
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