workhistory

Scott Berry
Songwriter ~ Producer ~ Performer

Theater, Sound Recordings, Film and TV Production

Composer ~ Arranger ~ Producer ~ Musician ~ Voiceover Artist

"There are only two things to strive for: good music and a clear conscience." - Paul Hindemith, composer

RECORDING & PRODUCTION HISTORY
(a quick look...)
At the age of 21, while still living and performing in New Orleans,Scott was offered the opportunity to record an album of his original material at CBS Recording Studios in New York City.
It was an amazing learning experience: he loved New York and knew then that he would one day return.

After recording other demos with his band, TOUCH, in Georgia and re-recording a New Orleans favorite,"Down At Papa Joe's", backed with his own song, "The Drifter And The Lady" on the "b" side, Scott decided to head back to New York in 1977.

Scott with wife and co-writer, Paula

Once in New York, Scott quickly landed the role of Musical Director in "I'M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER..." at the Public Theater, giving him the opportunity to work with wonderful theater talents such as Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford (both onstage and in the recording studio).

He also formed his own group, SCOTT BERRY BAND, playing his original songs at many live venues and creating a buzz, then recording his own compositions with talents like Jimmy Buffet singing backup as an endorsement of Scott's talent. During this time he was also asked to perform on Billy Joel's PIANO MAN video. Scott picked up more recording sessions as a pianist and singer, helping him further hone the skills he would need to be a first-rate session musician, engineer and producer.

"Ragtime Productions...provides everything from jingles to background scores for film and video, to songs created especially for shows, promotions and special projects. The husband and wife team of Scott Berry and Paula Stevens...write, arrange, perform and produce from concept to finished product."
--Kathy Estowski
Central Florida Magazine, May 1987

Since coming to Orlando, Scott, along with his wife Paula Stevens, has written and/or produced original music underscoring, songs and jingles (with voiceovers) for the Disney theme parks, Orlando's Theater Downtown, The Fringe Festival, The Orlando Magic basketball team, the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, a local Florida cable children's tv show, and other local businesses. Shortly after starting Ragtime Productions in 1986, Scott and Paula expanded their business and renamed it Scott Berry Productions. In 2001, Scott created the underscoring for THE CHALLENGE, a short film by director/producer Jason Liquori.

While keeping up his performing schedule around town (both as a solo singer/pianist and with his popular jazz trio) he co-produced New Age pianist/composer Mark Andrew's first solo album "AFTER THE STORM" in 1993. In 1996 Scott assisted on Mark Andrew's "IMAGES" CD and released a jazz CD with the SCOTT BERRY TRIO titled SWINGSHIFT. Scott produced and released three CDs in 2002. The first was a project by female jazz singer "DETROIT SAM", followed in rapid succession by his own "MORE THAN LOVE" CD (a collection of romantic favorites, the title song written by Scott himself). Then in late summer, Scott released his "SERENITY" CD, a full hour of meditation music, all original compositions. Scott produced another all-original CD, "NATIVE SPIRIT" in 2004,and is always in the studio, just ask his wife.
(Click here to see Scott's CDs page...)

WORK HISTORY: ORLANDO

"DETROIT SAM" CD (click to read about the CD and hear samples)    2002
Jazz Artist-SANDIE SPARKS
(Pianist/Producer)

THE CHALLENGE (click to see stills from the film)                       2001
Film Short - HocusFocus Productions
(Composer/Musician/Music Producer)

"I WISH YOU WELL" CD (click to hear samples)                              2001
Country/Folk Artist-CONNIE BLACKWOOD
(Piano Tracks)
"Z"                                                                                               2000
Film Short - HocusFocus Productions
(premiered at the TAMBAY FILM FESTIVAL)
(Lead Actor)

SWINGSHIFT CD   (read REVIEW)                                                1996
(Producer, Bandleader, Pianist)

"SHORT STORIES & TALL TALES" CD                                        1995
Country/Pop Artist-RICK BENNETT
(Piano and Organ Tracks)

AFTER THE STORM CD                                                             1993
New Age Pianist/Composer-MARK ANDREW
(Co-Producer)

EXODUS (by W. Brady, E. Hargett & J. Dowdy)                              1992
Live theatrical production for the Orlando FRINGE FESTIVAL
(Musician/Music Producer)

HALFTIME SHOWS                                                                1990 - 91
Orlando MAGIC/Magic Marketing Concepts
(Composer/Arranger/Music Producer/Musician/Voiceover Artist))

JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE (by August Wilson)                 1989
(Theater Downtown/ Directed by RALPH TROPF)
(Composer/Music Producer of original underscoring)

PHILLY PHANATIC Theme Song                                                  1989
Philadelphis PHILLIES/Magic Marketing Concepts
(Composer/Arranger/Performer/Music Producer)

GIOVANNI'S BIRTHDAY BIG TOP" - TV show                                 1988
CableVision of Central Florida
(Composer/Lyricist/Performer/Music Producer)

Various Original Musical Creations                                         1986 - 87
Walt Disney World Co.
(Composer/Lyricist/Arranger/Musician/Voiceover Artist)

Radio ads (co-written with Paula Stevens)                                       1987
Puff'n'Stuff Catering and NBN - National Business Network
(Composer/Lyricist/Musician/Singer/ Music Producer)

ADAM'S SONG (co-written with Paula Stevens)                              1987
Promotional Song for Adam Walsh Child Resource Center
(Composer/Lyricist/Musician/Music Producer)

SCHOOL IS COOL (co-written with Paula Stevens)                       1987
Special Education project with Giovanni Magic Productions
(Composer/Lyricist/Musician/Singer/Music Producer/Voiceover Artist)

Scroll down further...for
NEW YORK WORK HISTORY
(1977-85)

Scott's New York experience (1977 -1985) includes working as the musical director for the off-Broadway show "I'M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER AND TAKING IT ON THE ROAD" by Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford (produced by Joseph Papp), working with such leading actresses as Betty Buckley, Phylllis Newman, Betty Aberlin and Connie Stevens (and leading actors Orson Bean, Steven Keats, Joel Fabiani and George Hosmer).

Adding to his talents as an arranger and performer, he was also musical director for the productions "VINYL" (by J. King and E. Epstein), "HOLDING PATTERNS" (by Jeffrey Sweet). Scott is the composer and co-creator of the musicals "THE FIRST GREAT AMERICAN TRAVELING CARNIVAL" (with Lila Levant) and "BEING IN LOVE" (with Ralph Tropf). Scott also underscored the dramatic productions "OPTIONS" (by Andrew Foster) and "THE WAILING MIST" (by Greg Brennan).

(see REVIEWS & ARTICLES page)

Here's even more...
NEW YORK WORK HISTORY
(1977-85)

NEW YORK THEATER
Musical Director/Arranger/Songwriter/Pianist/Singer/Actor
HOLDING PATTERNS                                                                                                                                                               July '84
(By Jeff Sweet)                                                                Musical Theater Works                                          Musical director, Pianist

THE FIRST GREAT AMERICAN                                                                                                                                        November '83
TRAVELING CARNIVAL                                                                                                                             Composer, Musical Director,
(By Lila Levant and Scott Berry)                                        Frauces Tavern                                                   Arranger, Pianist, Singer

OPTIONS (see REVIEWS page, NY & LA)                                                                                                                            April-May '82
(By Andrew Foster)                                                             N.Y. Stage Works                                             Composer, Pianist, Singer
                                                                              Theater 40 (Los Angeles)                                                         (February '83)

THE WAILING MIST (see REVIEWS page, New York)                                                                                                        December 1979
(By Gregory and Andrew Brennan)                                     Theater Of The Open Eye                                                 Composer, Pianist

I'M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER                                                                                                                            June '78- March '81
   AND TAKING IT ON THE ROAD                                                                                                                 Original Cast Musical Director,
(By Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford)                                     Public Theater                                                                   Pianist, Actor
                         Circle In The Square Downtown

NEW YORK NIGHT CLUBS & CABARETS
Singer/Pianist/Songwriter/Musical Director/Arranger

SCOTT BERRY, solo performer                                                                                                                        1977-85
        West Bank Cabaret, Razzle Dazzle, Jolson's, Reno Sweeney, Kelly's Village West,                         Pianist, Singer,
        Reno Sweeney, Folk City, The Fives, Blue Skies, Miracles, The Other End,                                     Songwriter
Once Upon A Stove, Tony Roma, Inner Circle, Sabrina, Silver Lining, Barnaby's

MARK BUCHAN and SCOTT BERRY                                                                                                          July-August 1984
         Panache, Jason's Park Royal                                                                                                     Pianist, Musical Director

"VINYL" (see REVIEWS page, New York)                                                                                                               April-May 1983
(By Jerry King and Edward Z. Epstein)                                                                                           Musical Director, Lead Actor,
     ERIC'S Restaurant and Back Room                                                                                              Arranger, Pianist, Singer

THE SCOTT BERRY BAND                                                                                                                           1979 and 1980
              J P's and TRAX (various dates)                                                                                                    Bandleader, Songwriter,
                                                                                                                                                           Singer, Pianist