Scott, Bud (Arthur Jr.)

Scott, Bud (Arthur Jr.), jazz guitarist, banjoist, singer, violinist; b. New Orleans, La., Jan. 11, c. 1890; d. Los Angeles, Calif., July 2, 1949. He played guitar and violin from early childhood. Professionally active from the turn of the century, he worked with John Robichaux’s Orch. (c. 1904), and also played briefly in Freddie Keppard’s Olympia Orch. Scott left New Orleans in January 1913 as the featured violinist with a traveling show. By 1915, he was in N.Y., where he played in various theater orchestras; he remained there through 1921, except for a period in 1917 when he was in Baltimore as banjoist with Bob Young’s Band. In N.Y., he had many engagements as vocalist with the Clef Club Orch., including a famous appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1919. Scott then joined Will Marion Cook’s Orch. in 1921. Late in 1923, he moved to Chicago; during the next three years, he would work on and off with King Oliver in Chicago and Kid Ory on the West Coast. In 1926, he began working with Erskine Tate in Chicago before joining Dave Peyton in late 1926. He continued to work with Peyton (on violin) for over two years, but also worked as manager (and banjoist) at the Cafe de Paris, Chicago, in 1927 before making a brief return to Erskine Tate. Scott then worked with Jimmie Noone at the Apex Club (1928). During this period, Scott also did extensive freelance recordings, including sessions with Jelly Roll Morton. After working with Fess Williams (January 1929) and again with Peyton (summer 1929), Scott left Chicago in September 1929 to make his home in Los Angeles, where he worked with various bands and also led his own trio for several years. In 1944, he rejoined Kid Ory and continued to work with him until late 1948 when ill health forced him to quit regular playing. He appeared in the film New Orleans.

—John Chilton , Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter