{{Short description|Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Scott Merritt | image = Scott Merritt 1985 (F0620 it0421).jpg | caption = Merritt, {{circa|1985}} | image_size = | alt = | landscape = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = | death_date = | origin = Brantford, Ontario, Canada | occupations = singer-songwriter, record producer | instruments = | genre = Folk/pop/rock | Voice_type = | years_active = 1970s-present | label = | associated_acts = | website= }} '''Scott Merritt''' is a Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer.<ref name=jam>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160311045049/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/M/Merritt_Scott.html Scott Merritt] at canoe.ca's Pop Music Encyclopedia.</ref> Most prominent in the 1980s, he was a shortlisted nominee for Most Promising Male Vocalist at the Juno Awards of 1986.<ref>"Juno nominations list contains many faces that are familiar". ''The Globe and Mail'', September 9, 1986.</ref>
Originally from Brantford, Ontario,<ref name=jam /> in the late 1970s Merritt launched a career as a folk music singer-songwriter,<ref name=jam/> performing both locally and on the folk festival circuit.<ref>"It's summertime, and folkies find the pickin' is easy". ''The Globe and Mail'', June 23, 1978.</ref> His debut album ''Desperate Cosmetics'', released in 1979, was engineered by Daniel Lanois.<ref name=jam/>
He followed up with ''Serious Interference'' in 1983,<ref name=jam/> supported in part by a cultural exchange tour of the United States with artists including Brent Titcomb and Tamarack.<ref>"Folk contingent to visit U.S., Mexico". ''The Globe and Mail'', September 27, 1983.</ref> However, the album was not particularly successful, and Merritt began to pursue a more rock-oriented sound.<ref>"A singer who comes to life in the midnight hour". ''The Globe and Mail'', December 13, 1984.</ref>
He signed to Duke Street Records in 1985.<ref name=pleasing>"Scott Merritt pleasing others en route to pleasing himself". ''Toronto Star'', June 27, 1986.</ref> The label rereleased ''Serious Interference'' in early 1986, released his song "Transistor" as a single, and sent him out on tour as an opening act for Jane Siberry.<ref>"Jane Siberry, the enigma of pop, seems headed for commercial success". ''Kingston Whig-Standard'', October 18, 1985.</ref> He followed up later the same year with his third album ''Gravity Is Mutual'',<ref>"Gravity Is Mutual: Scott Merritt". ''The Globe and Mail'', June 19, 1986.</ref> which was produced by Roma Baran and included guest contributions by Adrian Belew.<ref name=pleasing /> That album's lead single, "Overworked and Underprivileged", became Merritt's most successful song on radio.<ref name=jam/>
In 1990 his fourth album, ''Violet and Black'', was released on Duke Street in Canada and IRS Records internationally.<ref name=jam/> The album was produced by Arthur Barrow.<ref>"Scott Merritt lets songs do his talking". ''Toronto Star'', August 31, 1990.</ref> However, both labels soon folded due to financial difficulties, leaving Merritt without a label.
He began at this time to concentrate on work as a recording engineer and record producer for other artists,<ref name=factories>"From factories to Ferris wheels". ''The Globe and Mail'', September 12, 2002.</ref> including Stephen Fearing, Grievous Angels, Ian Tamblyn, Lynn Miles, The Barmitzvah Brothers, James Gordon, Garnet Rogers, Suzie Vinnick and Fred Eaglesmith.<ref>[http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2011/12/scott_merritt_goes_lo-fi_on_la.php "Scott Merritt Goes Lo-Fi on Latest Eaglesmith Album"]. ''Houston Press'', December 20, 2011.</ref> He continued to perform occasional live shows.<ref>"Acoustic Waves series draws new faces". ''Ottawa Citizen'', September 21, 1995.</ref>
In 2002, Merritt released ''The Detour Home'' on Universal/Maple Recordings, his first new album since 1990.<ref name=factories/>
His latest album, ''Of'', was released in April 2015 as a limited edition vinyl and CD set.
==Discography== *''Desperate Cosmetics'' (1979) *''Serious Interference'' (1983) *''Gravity Is Mutual'' (1986) *''Violet and Black'' (1990) *''The Detour Home'' (2002) *''Of'' (2015)
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.scottmerritt.com/}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Merritt, Scott}} Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters Category:Canadian pop singers Category:Canadian rock singers Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters Category:Musicians from Brantford Category:Singers from Ontario Category:Living people Category:Canadian record producers Category:Canadian audio engineers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)