by Ted Gottsegen
Bud Scott was a multi-instrumentalist who could play the banjo, six-string guitar and violin, and at one point or another during his 45 years as a professional musician made his living playing each instrument. He first began playing the guitar at the tender age of four. By his teens Scott was an accomplished musician cutting his musical teeth as Buddy Bolden's banjoist and joining the John Robichaux band in 1904. Freddie Keppard's Olympia Orchestra until leaving New Orleans in 1913 after joining the vaudeville circuit. Scott eventually made his way to New York City where he made a living playing violin in pit orchestras and concert groups.

In 1919 Scott headed for Chicago where he joined King Oliver's Jazz Band with Kid Ory and can be heard on the legendary "Dippermouth Blues" sessions in the 1923. In 1928 Scott took over the banjo seat with Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra which recorded that same year.

In 1929 Scott left for Los Angeles where he made his living freelancing and doing extra work for the movie studios. By the mid-1940's the New Orleans revival was in high gear and Scott joined trumpeter Mutt Carey in the newly reformed Kid Ory's Creole Orchestra. He remained with Ory until late 1948 when ill-health forced him to stop playing full-time. He continued to play on-and-off with the Ory band until his death in July 1949.