Hello:
Coming from a long line of entertainers, piano players, fiddlers, and guitar pickers, music has always been a major part of my life. I am a native of Arizona, growing up in the east Phoenix area. I started playing guitar at eight, and soon was sitting in playing western music and square dances with my father and uncle. I give credit to my father as being my first guitar teacher, teaching me rhythm and his entire repertoire of Montgomery Ward chords as he referred to them, and playing western songs many nights together.
My dad’s cousin, a fine guitar player around the valley, began teaching me lead guitar, some music theory, guitar solos, and to improvise playing by ear. I also must mention my grammar school music teacher, a man and gifted musician who taught me how to read music, appreciate a variety of music instruments and styles, and giving me the confidence I needed to play up to my potential. Although at the time there wasn’t much need for guitarists in the school band and orchestra, so I played the stand up bass most of the time.
The music I was hearing on the radio during the 60’ and 70’s had a great influence on my style as a musician, although I continued to consider Chet Atkins, as Mr. Guitar. I started to venture away from western music, and spending more time listening and learning songs of the rock and folk rock genre such as the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Santana, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Led Zepplin, Frank Zappa and or course Jimi Hendrix. Learning guitar riffs and songs from friends, too numerous to name, playing in countless rock bands and praise bands around the valley, I began to evolve and create a style of my own. It was also during this time I started to feel comfortable and confident as a singer rather than just a guitarist.
My college years were continually interrupted by my music dream and desire to entertain, causing me to spend many years off and on at Arizona State University before getting a degree in electrical engineering. I put myself through college working as a computer technician and network engineer at the university after I graduated. I finally retired from ASU in 2007 and return to pursuing a musical career playing guitar and singing around the valley.
Having a repretoire of nearly 1000 songs, comprised of oldies, western, jazz, folk, classic rock, pop, and spiritual music from the early 1900's to the present, I enjoy performing music for all occasions throughout the Phoenix area.
Scott Gardner
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