Scott Vestal & Eddie Sanders Interview Part 2
By Big Al Weekley for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
At the age of 15 Scott was playing all over the US with TJ Rogers’ family band which eventually led to an audition with Larry Sparks. After performing and recording with Larry for a year, Scott struck out on his own and helped form Southern Connection, which toured the Midwest and East Coast for 3 years.
In 1985, Scott joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, performing in the U.S., Canada, and Europe as a member of the critically acclaimed quartet. Four years and five award winning albums later, he once again struck out to broaden his musical knowledge with his own group, Livewire, spent six months touring Japan with an acoustic jazz ensemble, and had a starring role in Phyllis McBride’s critically acclaimed original musical production, Cowboy Cafe.
Upon returning home from Japan, Scott got a call from singer/songwriter, Harley Allen to move to Nashville and form a band with him and David Parmley. Harley soon found that his writing schedule would not allow him to be on the road, thus the beginning of David Parmley, Scott Vestal, and Continental Divide, who went on to record three award winning projects and tour the US and Canada over the next 5 years. During this time Scott was awarded Banjo Player of the Year in 1996 by the International Bluegrass Music Association, and 1998 Banjo Player of the Year.
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Eddie Sanders is a world-class Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist from McAlester, Oklahoma. Eddie was born into southwest bluegrass royalty, and his father is legendary bluegrass festival and concert promoter, Freddie Sanders. The Sanders Family Bluegrass Festival in McAlester was one of the biggest and best bluegrass festivals west of the Mississippi, and one of the favorite venues for bluegrass acts Bill Monroe, The Osborne Brothers, Lewis Family, Jim & Jesse, Ralph Stanley and nearly every major bluegrass act of the last 40 years. The McAlester festivals were shaped and guided by his major bluegrass influences: Mac Wiseman, Larry Sparks and The Osborne Brothers. He also developed the professionalism that he learned from the best acts in the business, and also learned the power of a song and a love for original material. Eddie was also strongly influenced by Merle Haggard and Gene Watson and soon started writing his own songs.