Today we’d like to introduce you to Scottie Long.
Scottie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
During my early childhood, my parents played lots of classic rock greats in our home and some more obscure ones as well. Some of the musical artists who stuck with me, from that time are: The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, The Moody Blues and The Beatles. When I began selecting my own music, Grunge Rock was exploding onto the scene and the rebirth of many Classic Rock sounds were heard within the 90s Rock bands. Pearl Jam, Soundgarden & Nirvana competed for playing time on my cassette player and portable discman, but by high school, Pearl Jam won out! During the summer, following my senior year of high school, a great friend of mine since elementary school, Eliot Zuniga, showed me my first chords on a guitar and I was hooked! While attending the University of Iowa, I spent most of my hours learning guitar and performing live music at bars, coffee shops, and campus events. I have the fondest memories of those years, as music was a nice ice breaker to meeting my wife during that time as well! My friends and classmates at Iowa were amazingly supportive and encouraging; constantly attending shows. They made me feel like a rockstar.
Has it been a smooth road?
Music has always been challenging for me; which is why I enjoy the continuous learning as well as the journey. I’m fascinated with all the amazingly talented musicians in the world. I’ve certainly committed time to guitar and singing and I’m always willing to give maximum effort when practicing the instruments, though I cannot say any of it comes naturally to me. Repetition, trial & error and muscle memory have been my greatest aides with learning music.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Scottie Long – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Live solo performance is where I find the most satisfaction with music. While performing with bands and other musicians has an unmatched energy that I’ve always enjoyed, the vulnerability of taking the stage alone, with just your guitar and your voice, makes me feel alive.
Public performances of the music I grew up on (90s Rock, Classic Rock) and including more current popular songs as well, has opened my music up to a broad range of music lovers. Many listeners at my gigs hire me to perform at private events for them. I often perform at milestone birthday events: 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th… and even performed for an 80th. Still waiting on a call for a 90th and 100th! Public gigs have also lead to corporate events, wedding ceremonies, wedding cocktail hours, wedding anniversary parties, fundraising events, block parties and festivals. I’m grateful for the variety of opportunities. It’s flattering when someone invites you into their home or party location to perform for their nearest and dearest. They’re trusting you to deliver a great music performance while allowing you into their personal lives. It’s really special and it’s led to an average of 100 gigs per year for me.
Via music performances, I’ve met some of my closest friends and developed a supportive network with other musicians as well. It’s a constant reminder that we’ll never get there alone and we all need to help one another along the way. As far as music accomplishments, I had many goals during my teens and early twenties, some of which included record deals and stadium tours, which weren’t obtained, while others such as performing at Millennium Park, was obtained. As I’ve continued with performing live music, I’ve learned that what I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve formed via music; as meaningful relationships are the key foundations to our lives and one of the only things we will take with us when our short time here comes to an end.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago is one of the best places to be during the summer months. It’s our reward for enduring the winters! Live music comes to life during Chicago summertime. So many wonderful outdoor events from the large stages at festivals to the local bars and restaurants offering outdoor live music; as well as all the additional private events requesting music!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.scottielong.com
- Phone: 630-290-2757
- Email: scottielong@hotmail.com
- Instagram: scottielongdotcom
- Facebook: Facebook.com/scottielongdotcom
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
