User:Marianscott/Sandbox

User:Marianscott/Sandbox Scott "Skyntyte" Free aka Slimi Hempstix aka Beau Digitally, is a American funk & roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter, born Scott Deverin Smith on November 15, 1961 in Hartford, Connecticut. He is known as Bo Diddley's protege and played a key role in helping Diddley expand his musical taste to include funk and hip-hop. He introduced more insistent, driving rhythms and a hard-edged guitar sound on a wide-ranging catalog of songs. Accordingly, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation "[2][3] and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy). He was also known for his technical innovations, including his trademark rectangular guitar.

The '70s
Scott Free began his quest to become an entertainer after he wrote a campaign slogan during his father's run for the Connecticut State Senate. Free asked his father if he could write and read a campaign slogan and when his father said "yes" Free composed and recited (with 'Sex Machine' by James Brown as a backing track): "On November 11, get up ah, get on up and vote for Wilber G. Smith, State Senator". At age 10, after attending a James Brown concert at Hartford's Bushnell Auditorium lead to a backstage meeting with the "Godfather of Soul" Free began playing drums and did so until his father, now Connecticut State Senator, surprised Free with a guitar in 1972. That same night, he learned the soul classic 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' by r&b group, The Stylistics. Free's skills were so proficient that he performed the song for Gladys and Bubba Knight after they performed at ? in Wallingford, CT.

After interviewing George Clinton in 1976, a fourteen year old Free was bitten by the "funk bug"

The '80s
Free began his professional music career as a guitarist/vocalist after joining Harlem International recording artists, Ecstasy, based out of Providence, R.I. The group was discovered by Sun Song Productions stage manager Bob Andrade who then introduced the fledgling young group to company President and C.E.O. Jesse Boseman. Sun Song Productions is a concert tour promotion company in New York City, New York.

During a two night run at Manhattan night club Leviticus, the Late Phylis Hyman was floored by the group and promised to report back to her friend Teddy Pendergrass that Ecstasy was perfect for the opening slot on Pendergrass' Love T.K.O. Tour featuring Stephanie Mills.

Before Ecstasy would embark on the Love T.K.O. Tour however, they performed shows with r&b group CHIC. On November 21, 1980, the group performed at Madison Square Garden.

In 1981, Free was introduced to Bo Diddley by Diddley's daughter Terri McDaniel who met Free in Atlanta, GA. while performing with Ecstasy.

In 1981, after being invited to move to Diddley's home in Hawthorne, FL, Free started the band, Offspring with McDaniel's daughter Terri on keyboards/vocals and Tammi on drums/vocals.

In 1982, Diddley and Offspring recorded 'Ain't It Good To Be Free' with Free co-writing 'Bo Diddley Put The Rock In Rock-n-Roll', with Diddley. Diddley having set up one of the first home recording studios[7], recorded most of the album in his home recording studio. The cassette was released on Diddley's BoKay Records, followed by a two-month tour of Europe.

Backed up Dr. John in Key West, Florida. Performed on Dick Clark shows. Performed at The Lone Star in New York City. In 1984 before a Mississippi Delta Blues Festival performance, Free met the late, Stevie Ray Vaughn.

1989, he teamed with Bo Diddley to write the track that became the music bed in Nike's famous "Bo Knows" commercials, in which Diddley delivers his one line: "Bo, you don't know Diddley!" Free performed on the studio recording recorded at West Lake Audio in Los Angeles, California and can be seen in the commercial playing drums.

The '90s
When Diddley relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1990, Free formed The Show band The Fabulous Bootus Battalion with his cousin/vocalist Greg Lee residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Produced the Bo Diddley album, 'This Should Not Be', the second record released by independent record label, Triple X Records of Los Angeles, California.

On August 20, 1992, he appeared on The Today Show, a popular television morning show, where he performed as part of Diddley's backing band. Further appearances on CBS Live At The Hardrock Cafe.

In 1995 and 1996, Free produced two days of The New Mexico State Fair for the State of New Mexico and The Albuquerque branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.), dubbing them 'The African-American Culture Fest'. Free organized a "Rodeo Run" by New Mexico's Black Cowboys and had the Buffalo Soldiers 44 acts the first year and 66 acts the second year on two stages.

Received an award from The Public Broadcast System (P.B.S.) the 'Stop The Violence' campaign Performed with Diddley's grandson "Philosopher G", a motivational rap artist in Alachua County school system.

2000's
Selected as lead vocalist/emcee, guitarist with Bernie Worrell & The WOO Warriors. co-wrote and Recorded the Worrell's internet song, 'Jah Says You Can' with Worrell and metal funk bassist, T. M. Stevens.

In 2006, performed in Moscow, The Russian Federation with The WOO Warriors

Currently serves as guitarist/vocalist in Original P-Parliament-Funkadelic