Scott Allen Project Biography
Scott began playing guitar at age 11 after seeing a live Van Halen video. He began taking lessons, and when he was twenty he attended the Musician’s Institute, G.I.T.. After getting the opportunity to study with the likes of Scott Henderson, Danny Gill, Brett Garsed, and Steve Trovato, Scott graduated from M.I. in March 1996.
He moved back to Sacramento and began teaching guitar at Northridge Music Center, where he currently teaches 65 to 70 students weekly. Scott also started playing lead guitar with local metal favorites 7 Years. With 7 Years, he played countless gigs throughout the Sacramento area and recorded one EP. After two years, the group disbanded, which led him to start his own group, Scott Allen Project.
With Scott Allen Project he has opened for a number of national acts such as: Gary Hoey, Eric Martin of Mr. Big, Dave Maniketti of Y&T, Planet X (which featured Tony MaCalpine and Virgil Donati of The Steve Vai Band, and Derek Sherinian, formerly of Dream Theater), former MCA recording artists Zoppi, Frank Hannon of Tesla, and countless local bands. After several shows together, Frank Hannon ultimately agreed to produce and record Scott's debut CD What Lies Beyond Words.
Scott Allen Project has re-released What Lies Beyond Words independently in West Coast locations earlier this year, and has concluded a West Coast tour starting in Los Angeles. The record is being distributed via: Metal Rendevous Records, CD Baby, Guitar Nine Records, New Artists Online, Indie Music Store Online, Scott Allen Project Online Store, Wayside Music, I-Tunes, and many other digital distributors. A second record is in the works for release in 2008. Scott has been featured in Mike Varney’s Spotlight Column in the January 2006 issue of Guitar Player Magazine. He has also received coverage in Northeast In-tune Magazine, Rise Music Magazine, Progressive Newsletter, and Unsigned Music Magazine. Two tracks from What Lies Beyond Words are being featured on Ernie Ball Radio, on the Ernie Ball Music Man website. Scott Allen Project has also received radio play on KRXQ 98 Rock, FTM Pod Cast network, The Refinery Rock Radio, Progrock Radio on Progrock.com, Metal Express Radio, Indie Connection Radio Show on X FM in New York, The Fusion Show on WCSB in Cleveland, and the For the Love of Guitar radio show in Romania. Scott Allen Project has received reviews on Shredaholic.com, the Guitar Zone, Guitar Chef Italy, Hard Rock Haven, Guitar Nine Records, 21st Century Metal Net, Music in Belgium, Metal Revolution, Metal Observer, MusicTap, Progscape.com, Rough Edge, Sea of Tranquility, Metal Express Radio, Progressive Rock Brazil, Music Morsels, Ytsejam.com, and the ShredZone. Scott Allen Project has also provided the music for the KRXQ 98 Rock “Bod Squad” DVD. Scott writes instructional columns on the guitar websites, Guitar Nine Records, and Guitarz-For-Ever.com. Guitar Nine Records has also featured Scott Allen Project as their Undiscovered Artist for November 2005. The band has received television exposure in the San Francisco Bay area, and radio and print promotion from as far away as Italy, Serbia & Montenegro, Argentina, Indonesia, and the UK. Scott Allen Project has also begun working with Jetset Sound, and Karnal Promotions, to service their music to television and film. Scott has also recently received equipment endorsements with Vigier Guitars, SIT Strings, Dimarzio Pickups, Morley Pedals, George L Cables, and Peavey Amplifiers.