By age seven, Grammy Award Winner, Yonrico Scott was playing professionally with several gospel groups in Detroit, Michigan – primarily, as a direct result of the unwavering encouragement and support of his late mother, Ruth Scott, a talented gospel vocalist and performer.

By age fourteen, Yonrico began private study with Motown drummer, George Hamilton. His musical accomplishments continued throughout college, and during his freshman year at Kentucky State University, he was voted, 'Drummer of the Year.' He later transferred to the University of Kentucky to study with Dave Davenport, Professor of Percussion and Principal Timpanist of the Lexington Philharmonic, where he received a B.A. in Performance Percussion in 1978.

In 1979, Yonrico accepted an Artist in Residency assignment in Atlanta, GA, with The Neighborhood Arts Center’s Department of Cultural Affairs. It wasn’t long afterwards that Yonrico became one of Atlanta's most sought-after studio drummers. Since 1995, Yonrico has been touring the world as a member of the Derek Trucks Band (dTb). (The dTb is a Sony Music Entertainment artist with recent television appearances on the CBS Early Show, the Conan O’Brien Show, & A&E’s Breakfast in the Arts, among others.) Their self-titled debut CD was released on Landslide Records in October 1997. Since then, the band has released six additional recordings: Out of the Madness, Joyful Noise, Soul Serenade, Live at the Georgia Theatre, Songlines, and most recently, Already Free (2009), which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album at this year's 52 Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, CA..

The dTb has headlined the popular ‘Blues Cruise’ and ‘Jam Cruise,’ and completed multiple tours of Japan & Europe. They’ve opened for and performed with artists such as: BB King, Eric Clapton, Santana, Buddy Guy, Joe Satriani, John Popper, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Gregg Allman and Friends, Gov’t Mule, Leftover Salmon, Taj Mahal, Little Milton, Mavis Staples, and Otis Rush. Yonrico also collaborates & tours internationally with Grammy Award Winner, Earl Klugh, and his own band, the Yonrico Scott Band (YSB), which includes Kofi Burbridge, Keys/Flute, and Todd Smallie, Bass. YSB’s debut release, Turning the Corner, was released in January, 2004.

Throughout his musical career, Yonrico has recorded and/or performed with a Who’s Who list of well-known artists. Most recently, he has collaborated with The Ying Yang Twins and Outkast. Other notable artists include Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Peabo Bryson, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Chuck Berry, George Howard, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Joshua Redman, George Benson, Anita Baker, Tinsley Ellis, The Allman Brothers Band, Susan Tedeschi, Kansas, John Scofield, Bruce Hampton, Cecil Bridgewater, Alvin Batiste, Gary Burton, Fiji Mariners, Andrew White, Gregg Allman, John Denver, Ben E. King, The 3 Degrees, The Supremes, Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh, The Lexington Philharmonic, and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, among others. Yonrico's Broadway tour performances include The Wiz, 5 Guys Named Moe, and Dream Girls.

Yonrico’s endorsements include Pearl Drums, Ziljian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, LP Percussion, and Everyone's Drumming.

Discography Note: Throughout the 1980's to the Present, Yonrico has enjoyed working with various composers and arrangers for a multitude of commercial recordings for advertising/ commercials, jingles, individual songs, etc. Probably one of the more important recordings of this nature, working with Producer, Tim McCabe, Yonrico collaborated with Ray Charles to re-record Georgia's State Song, Georgia On My Mind. Additional composers Yonrico has worked with include Bill Meyers, Jim Ellis, Jack Turner, and Steve Holts, among others.

written by Gen Cole (fair use of this work is granted, however, if you want authorization to use this bio in part or whole for long term use, please contact me at gen @ gencole.com)