Described by Variety Magazine as an, "an immense talent," Scott Mayo "infuses songs with a drama and sensitivity that leave you hungering for more."
Mayo is an acclaimed saxophonist, flutist, singer, composer and Grammy® nominated producer and musician. He is known for his versatile style and ability move freely within any musical genre from pop, R&B, rock, jazz, classical to hip hop. As LA Weekly referred to him, "Cool's being redefined here."
For more than 20 years, Mayo has been a multi-instrumentalist working with legendary artists including Earth Wind & Fire, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Sergio Mendes, Luther Vandross, Cee-Lo Green, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Ice Cube, Michael Bolton, Jennifer Hudson and Brazilian guitarist, Dori Caymmi.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Mayo began playing music at age 8, performing for friends and family. His musical journey has since taken him around the world touring with numerous artists. He is now a fixture in the Los Angeles music scene playing saxophone, flute, clarinet and piano.
Mayo can be heard and seen each week as a member of the American Idol band often playing alongside the contestants. He has performed on many other TV shows including, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Singing Bee.
Mayo shared the stage with Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq during the 2011 Grammy Awards® in a tribute to the late "King of Rock n' Soul," Solomon Burke. During the 2011 BET Awards, Mayo was the featured saxophone soloist honoring the late Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Mayo was also featured playing flute with Queen Latifah as part of 2011 BET Awards tribute to jazz poet, Gil Scott-Heron.
Mayo can be heard in a series of commercials and movies as both a composer and session player. Among them is the 2011 Warner Bros. Pictures animated film, Happy Feet Two starring the voices of Robin Williams, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt. He can also be heard in the 2012 summer film release of Madagascar 3.
Perhaps best known for his work with, Earth Wind & Fire, Mayo toured the globe with the group for more than six years playing saxophone and flute. He is particularly lauded for his stirring on-stage saxophone solo during the beloved hit, "Reasons" featured on the Earth, Wind & Fire: Plugged In & Live album.
Mayo is passionate about writing music for his own projects and for other artists. He arranged the horns and other woodwinds for seven songs on Bom Tempo, the Latin Grammy-winning album from Brazilian legend, Sergio Mendes. The album includes Mayo's skills on the saxophone, flute and clarinet. He also arranged horns and performed 19 songs for Mendes' 2010 summer concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.
Mayo received a Best R&B Album Grammy nomination for producing the Oleta Adams album, Moving On. He also received a Grammy nomination as the featured performer soprano saxophone soloist on "Romance - Theme from Monterey" by legendary composer Gerald Wilson. Mayo is lead saxophonist in The Gerald Wilson Orchestra.
Mayo's jazzy debut album, Low Angle View, showcases his talents as a multi-instrumentalist. Mayo also shows his professional singing chops in a cover of The Eagles classic, "I Can't Tell You Why." His sophomore album, Testimony, showcases his voice on every song.
Mayo is honored to be a member of the Yamaha family and is very open about his love of all of the Yamaha instruments he plays.
