Scott Ainslie’s Resume

Guitarist/Author/Teacher
101 Washington Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301

Tel. 802/257-7391

scott@cattailmusic.com
https://cattailmusic.com

Thirty-nine years ago, in 1967, I picked up a guitar after hearing local grave digger and bluesman John Jackson play at a local Alexandria, VA high school. I’ve been studying and playing traditional music ever since, making a living presenting programs and concerts on the African roots of American music in schools; playing clubs, concerts and festivals; teaching and making recordings and teaching videos, with an eye on the social justice issues surrounding race in America, and an ear on the music.

Education

Washington & Lee University, 1974
BA-Music Theory & Composition
Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude

Recordings

The Feral Crow, Cattail Music, 2004

You Better Lie Down, Cattail Music, 2002

Terraplane, Cattail Music, 1998

Join The Jubilee: Tom Chapin Live, 1995

Jealous of the Moon, Cattail Music, 1995

Young Fogies, w/Fly By Night String Band, 1985

Cotton Patch Gospel: Original Cast Album, 1981

Fly By Night String Band, Fretless, 1980

Instructional DVD/Videos

Robert Johnson’s Guitar Techniques
Guitar Instructional Video,
Starlicks Master Sessions, 1997

Publications

Backwater Blues: A Historical Perspective on Katrina

Elmore Magazine #5, Nov-Dec, 2005

Old Nationals: From Pawnshop to the Stage

Acoustic Guitar Magazine, 1997

Fluent in the Blues, Interview by Jeff Bibb.

Acoustic Musician, 1995

George Higgs: Songs I Sing is a Feeling to Me

Living Blues Magazine, 1993

Robert Johnson: At The Crossroads

Hal Leonard Corp., 1992

Traveling Riverside Blues

Guitar World Magazine, 1991

Educational Residencies

Southside Virginia Community College
Alberta, VA 1999-2000

Wytheville Community College
Wytheville, VA 1998

Central Virginia Community College
Lynchburg, VA 1995

Germanna Community College
Locust Grove, VA 1994

Virginia Highlands Community College
Abingdon, VA 1993

Danville Community College
Danville, VA 1991

Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, NC 1988-90

Roanoke-Chowan Community College
Ahoskie, NC 1986-88

Grants/Awards

University of North Carolina Public Fellow 2001-2
UNC-Chapel Hill, NC

20th Annual Sam Ragan Award 2000
Presented by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College, for
outstanding contributions to the Fine Arts in NC

Living Heritage Award 2000
National Slide Guitar Festival

Indie Arts Award 2000
The Independent Weekly, Durham NC

North Carolina Folklife Initiatives Grant 1993-4
Supporting production, recording and mastering of NC Blues
Musician George Higgs. NC Arts Council and National Endowment
for the Arts.

North Carolina Emerging Artists Award 1990
Supporting professional development and recording. NC Arts
Council and Arts Council of Fayetteville, NC.

NC Folklife Documentation Grant 1989-90
For fieldwork and audio production of Gospel Roots radio
program featuring traditional gospel musicians of eastern
NC, funded by NCAC and NEA.

NC Folklife Initiatives Grant 1987-88
Supporting fieldwork and video production of Piedmont Blues
Today featuring traditional Blues musicians of eastern
NC, funded by the NCAC and National Endowment for the
Arts.

Music Camps/Guitar Intensives

Common Ground on the Hill
William McDaniel College 1997-2014

Swannanoa Gathering: Guitar Week
Warren Wilson College 1997-2004, 2006-2014

Summer Acoustic Music Week
Geneva Point, NH 1998-2004, 2006, 2015

Stringalong Music Camps
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2003, 2005

Webnash Productions/Weekend Workshops
Western MA, Eastern NY State, 2003, 2004

Augusta Heritage: Blues Week
Elkins, WV 1997