Multi-instrumentalist Scott Cooper is a veteran of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. He's best known for his work with the popular Grateful Dead tribute the China Cats, for which has held the rhythm guitar (aka the "Bobby") chair for over a decade. But Scott's talents extend far beyond that realm: singer, songwriter, producer, bassist and drummer. His second solo CD was aptly titled "Jack of All Trades" while his first solo CD, "A Leg Trick" reached #5 on the nartional jam band radio charts. He has since released three more CDs under his own name, as well as playing on other artists' releases.
"A fantastic songwriter" wrote the Good Times (Santa Cruz).
"These are great songs,” added KPIG radio celebrity John Sandidge
A veteran of the Bay Area music scene for over three decades, Scott has worked with countless musicians on stage and in the studio, from blues to bluegrass and beyond.
As a bass player, Scott has been playing with Bay Area jam band the Gary Gates Band for over 20 years and plays on Gary's heralded CD "San Gregorio General Store" produced by John Nowland (Neil Young, Jewel). Scott also performs acoustic solo and duo gigs, including four years at the Grateful Hotel in Costa Rica. An in-demand sideman, Scott has also performed with the Banana Slug String Band, Al Frisby, Aardvark, Stu Allen as well as members of the Doobie Brothers, Radiators, Grateful Dead, Galactic, Jefferson Starship, David Grisman Quintet and many more notable names.
A native of St. Louis, Scott began his music career as a drummer in the house band at both Callahans Pub and Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz, then later toured with blues legends Johnny Shines and Luther Tucker, as well as gigs with local legend and Scott's hero Robert Lowery. Then he played in a band called Mean Business with Ben Ellman (later with Galactic) and Luca Fredericksen (later with Wolfman Washington). After that, Scott joined Little Danny & the Rollercoasters with Rusty Zinn and Marc Carino, later of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In the 90s, he worked with a popular jam band called Deep Blue Sea, where he honed his songwriting craft. From there it was on to play with Relix Records jam band Stackabones, where Scott moved from behind the drums to playing bass, and contributing original material. Scott recorded three CDs with Stackabones, on which he plays drums, bass, guitar and keyboards.
Scxott has since released four CDs under his own name, showcasing his songwriting.
For the past 15 years, he has performed regularly with the China Cats and Rosebud, which features original material from Scott and his bandmates.
Offstage, Scott has spent his entire adult life working in the music industry. In addition to performing and booking, he works as Office Manager for Rick Turner/Renaissance Guitars. Previously he taught guitar at UC-Santa Cruz, worked as a sales rep for Drumskull Drums, syndicated music journalist for the NY Times syndicate and LA Times syndicate, blues deejay at KUSP, new age deejay at KLRS, Program Manager at KSCO and Editor for OnRadio, supplying CD reviews, music news and artist interviews to radio stations' web sites.