19 Facts About Scott Vestal

Scott Vestal is an American banjoist, songwriter and luthier, known for his innovative approach to playing and designing the banjo.

The older of two children, Scott Vestal was raised in Duncan, Oklahoma in a musical family.

Scott Vestal's Grandfather Famon Self was a country fiddler who taught Vestal his first guitar chords.

At age 18, Scott Vestal performed and recorded with Larry Sparks for a year.

At age 19, Scott Vestal moved to Texas and with his brother Curtis and Russell Moore formed the band Southern Connection, which toured the Midwest and East Coast for 3 years.

In 1985, Vestal, Russell Moore, and Scott Vestal joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, replacing Terry Baucom.

Scott Vestal stayed with Quicksilver for four years and five albums.

Scott Vestal then formed his group Livewire with mandolinist Wayne Benson, guitarist and vocalist Robert Hale, and bassist Ernie Sykes.

Scott Vestal toured Japan with an acoustic jazz ensemble, and starred in Phyllis McBride's original musical production Cowboy Cafe.

In 1994, Scott Vestal moved to Nashville and formed a band with Harley Allen and David Parmley.

Scott Vestal produced, engineered, and played on an annual series of instrumental albums for Pinecastle Records.

Scott Vestal played on Johnny Staats' mandolin project with John Cowan.

Scott Vestal had the opportunity to incorporating a solid body electric MIDI banjo into their recordings and performances.

In 2006, Scott Vestal worked with David Lee Roth to promote the CMH Records Van Halen bluegrass tribute Strummin' with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen, appearing on late night and daytime talk shows and at a concert at the Nokia Theater in New York City.

Scott Vestal has worked with Bill Monroe, Tim O'Brien, Jim Lauderdale, Shawn Camp, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Vassar Clements, Chris Thile, Hank Williams III, Kenny Chesney, Del McCoury, Dierks Bentley, Billy Ray Cyrus, Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakam, and others.

Scott Vestal wrote nine of thirteen songs on his first solo album In Pursuit Of Happiness and nine of twelve songs on his album Millennia.

On Millennia, released in 2000, Scott Vestal is joined by John Cowan on vocals, Reese Winans on keyboards, Pasi Leppikangas on drums, Jeff Autry and Jim Hurst on guitars, and Stuart Duncan, Kati Penn, and Rickie Simpkins on fiddle.

Scott Vestal was awarded Banjo Player of the Year in 1996 by the International Bluegrass Music Association, and 1998 Banjo Player of the Year by the Bluegrass Now Magazine Fan's Choice Awards.

In 2017, Scott Vestal was awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass.