Scott Alan (i)

Born in Nassau County Long Island, NY, on May 16, 1978, Scott Alan knew at the early age of three that music would be his life. "My grandfather sat me down and played me the soundtrack to Oliver. That, to me, was the greatest gift because it introduced me to a form of expression that I had yet to learn and would eventually help me escape in the future." That expression was music.

Soon, Scott learned to find his own form of sanity sitting at his piano, and expressing himself both musically and lyrically with his greatest gift, his voice. "It took me some time to perfect the craft of songwriting. I drove everyone in my family crazy banging on the same chord over and over again, but it was also wonderful because I knew I was getting somewhere when people actually praised my work instead of ignoring it."

Once Scott had convinced his family that music was where his heart was, it didn't take long until Scott bid farewell and was attending music classes at UMass Boston, Theater Study at Emerson College and voice at Berkley College of music. "I enjoyed posing as a 'fake' songwriter. There were so many talented people surrounding me, and I didn't know exactly how, out of all these people, I would be the one chosen to pursue my dreams in the future."

Yet, it didn't take long for Scott to draw in a fan base. "In the summer of 1998, my father and mother had separated, and the only place I could find comfort and solace was my piano. So, one day I sat down and out came 'Kiss the Air.'" "The lyrics are so simple. I guess people relate to honest simplicity." Scott wrote this song in the context of his father explaining to his mother why he must leave and how this was best for her and their children.

This was the song that gave Scott his greatest feedback. "I wrote this song mainly for myself. I tried to understand how after years of loving someone, they could just simple walk away. It was a hard time in my life. Yet, I guess you know you've written a good song when it's so personal to you and yet reaches so many others."

Soon after, a friend of Scott's suggested he put on a production of his music with his closest friends singing his material. On February 19, 1999, Listen and Dream premiered at the Fireplace Theater in Boston.

Not a second after the first standing ovation occurred, Scott knew this is where he wanted his life to be. "I felt, for the first time, I was viewed not just as a performer, or a singer, but as a songwriter, and that made me feel wonderful. I finally felt validated in that field."

Not long after, Scott decided to pursue music full time, so he packed up his car and moved with nothing less then a dream to California. No longer then two weeks into Scott's move to Los Angeles, an old friend from Emerson encouraged him to audition for a new group that had fired its lead vocalist. "I auditioned, got the job that day and was in the studio recording every minute I could thereafter. I loved it." Yet, what Scott didn't love was the music. "O.K., so the music wasn't stellar. O.K., the music wasn't even good," Scott says with a laugh. "I'll give you that. Yet, it was still an amazing opportunity for me to learn the ropes in a real studio and know how it felt to have deadlines." Eventually, Scott and the group went their separate ways. "I needed the group to build my courage in a recording situation, yet I also realized my greatest strengths as a vocalist was singing more personal material that I had written. Something I love so much about music in general, is that it is a creation of so much held up emotion. I have never hid the feeling that I suffered severe depression growing up, but it could have been so much worse without having music as an outlet, and I think I bring a lot of that to my music. I'm not ashamed of my past, I have never hid anything, and I have no secrets. I share everything in my lyrics and the music I create."

After walking away from one situation, Scott's created a relationship with industry vets Ricky Minor and Diane Louie and had the opportunity to work with such artists as Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross, Boys II Men and Yolanda Adams, among others. " I was fortunate enough to have two amazing people teach me the ropes of the business. I was given the great opportunity of working alongside two amazing talents, Ricky (Minor) and Diane (Louie), and they both really dedicated their time and friendship to helping me understand the profession I wanted so badly to be a part of."

In September 2002, Detour, a musical written by Scott Alan, opened to packed crowds at the Complex Theater and reminded us that love, loss, creation, destruction and above all - humor- was what makes us human. "For so long, my audience always commented how my music had a very theatrical move too it, and for a long time, I tried to deny it, but it's who I am. I grew up on theater and it's always been a part of me."

In the summer of 2003, Scott moved back to New York to premiere his new musical Piece, which is already drawing fans, and it has yet to open. In January 2005, Scott produced a new series called Monday Nights, New Voices. The acclaimed series, which honors the best up and coming talent in New York, has been celebrated for over three years, and has been welcomed to the theatre community with loving arms.

Of 'New Voices, Scott Says, 'I am lucky in so many ways. If I can help open doors for others, and help celebrate and honor them as they continue to root themselves in this very tough industry, then I will continue to do so. There is no greater pleasure then providing applause for talented performers who deserve to be heard.'

Of Piece, Scott says, "I am very fortunate. I love this show. It's the journey of one woman's life and it's not all glamorous, which could work against me here. People like happy happy, dance dance, in theater. Personally, I like reality and my reality wasn't always a smile and a good costume change. I learned from many of the mistakes while doing Detour and I am taking them with me and putting back all I learned and using it for this new show. I learned, mainly, never to sell out. If it's not a success, then I'd rather walk away knowing I was proud of it. I have written some of my best work for Piece and I am so proud to have been given this opportunity.

In 2007, Scott accomplished a major dream in releasing his debut CD of music, "Dreaming Wide Awake: The Music of Scott Alan." Featuring some of today's brightest new Broadway stars singing his work, Scott couldn't be more proud of the response the CD has garnered;

"Scott wears his heart on his sleeve - both sleeves - and it's a big heart; he expresses his feelings with unabashed emotion. Run for the hills if you don't like openness and open wounds in songs, but you'll be missing some of our best musical theater singers treating a skilled writer's work with care and matching his passion ... Dynamite was never so heartfelt." - Rob Lester, Talkin' Broadway

Still Scott says, 'In a way, I feel like my life is just beginning now. And for the first time, in 29 years I can honestly say, I am ready.'