Photos by Angela Selix
Prescott Now: How long have you guys been playing together?
The Scott O’neal Band: I started The Scott O’Neal band in 2001. It seems like it evolves constantly, and members come and go for one reason or another. Merri McKee has been with me for four years, and Peter Kay, our drummer, has been with us for around three months. Other members — Carl Dahalgren, keys, Mark Winley, bass, and Brian Waterbury, guitar — have been with us for one to two years.
Prescott Now: What genre or genres of music do you play?
The Scott O’neal Band: I describe our music as leaning toward the blues side of R&B. I am a songwriter, and probably 95% of the songs we play are originals. I was born and raised about 30 miles south of Motown so that music is embedded in my heart and soul, and I believe it comes through in my writing and composing.
We do some covers, but they’re not songs that you’re going to hear from anyone else, in this town anyway. I’ve always said
“I want to play songs that
you wanted to hear, you just didn’t know you wanted to hear them.”
Prescott Now: What is the key to being a successful musical act in Prescott and Northern Arizona?
The Scott O’neal Band: My idea of how to be successful differs from other musicians around. A lot of people play music for money, and that’s a hard road to follow! I’ve always felt that you should play for the pleasure and the thrill of performing.
Don’t get me wrong, I like getting paid, and my band doesn’t do it for free. The caliber of talent that we bring deserves its just reward and besides that there are other people that do this for a living and it would be wrong to lower their value as performers.
We don’t play that many other gigs besides our regular every other Sunday Blues Jam at the Windsock. When you see The Scott O’Neal Band you get something special!
Prescott Now: What’s the smallest audience you’ve played for?
The Scott O’neal Band: I always play my new songs to my wife. If you’re talking about in public, I’ve played for three or four people.
Audience numbers are a confusing thing because I’ve played for a room full of people who were unappreciative and I’ve played for a few who applauded and gave you incentive to keep going just for them.
Prescott Now: Where do you find the inspiration for your songwriting or performances?
The Scott O’neal Band: I usually start with a hook that is a phrase or a saying that catches your ear or gets your attention. How the rest of the process goes let me quote Bill Withers: “It’s magic. I don’t know how it happens and I really don’t want to know.” All I can tell you is that sometimes it’s a struggle, sometimes it just flows out of me.
Prescott Now: What brought you to Prescott?
The Scott O’neal Band: My mom lived here in the ‘80s, and I would come up for a visit with my family. I always loved it. I spent 20 years in the Valley and just got tired of the big city lifestyle, and when I got the chance I moved up the mountain. Prescott has an amazing music scene and an adoring fan base and now I can’t see myself leaving.
