Scott Paddock, the son of a middle school band director, picked up a saxophone for the first time at the age 10 in his hometown of Sheperdstown, West Virginia. It is this same instrument that has since led Paddock to the Pigtown neighborhood of Baltimore and provided him a career filled with trips around the world, sets with some big names in the music industry, tracks heard in some very popular shows and films, a schedule filled with gigs, and the opportunity to teach students.
Paddock, who attended Shepherd University as a saxophone classical performance major, makes his living playing his saxophone and it’s been his only job since the age of 20. With Shepherd situated less than 90 minutes from Baltimore and Washington, DC, Paddock began his career performing the instrument he loves in both cities with many different bands. Though his major was classical performance, a genre he barely plays, jazz, funky jazz and R&B were the tunes that kept him busy.
After graduating, Paddock moved to New York City, but quickly learned that talented saxophone players were a dime a dozen in The Big Apple. He soon left for a job playing on cruise ships that allowed him to see the Mediterranean and the Caribbean and, more importantly, meet the right people who helped him get a job playing on the mainland with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
Paddock’s career was jump-started and he eventually made his permanent home in Baltimore as most of his gigs were in the DC/Baltimore area. Paddock has since played with such big names as Bela Fleck, Jackson Browne, Bootsy Collins and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra (a rare chance to use his major!) Paddock even got to play for the President of Mexico at a Chivas soccer game in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Now Paddock has his own band, ‘Scott Paddock,’ which has produced two albums and plays about 15 times a week with different bands throughout the region. You can catch Paddock playing at local venues such as Phaze 10, Club 347 or at festivals such as Wine in the Woods or Capital Jazz Fest. He may have even played at one of your friend’s weddings.
Paddock’s sounds can also be heard in some very popular television shows and films. He has performed session work for scenes in Scrubs, Friday Night Lights, House, Savages, Bones, What Not to Wear, Punk’d, Cougar Town, Anthony Bourdain No Reservations, Chuck, Monsters University, Dog Whisperer and more.
Paddock also spends two days a week teaching private saxophone lessons to ten different students in Ellicott City. Many of the students work with him from 6th grade through graduation.
Paddock also started his own local music blog, Mobtown Music Guide, which features stories, interviews and reviews on the Baltimore music scene. There you can also find his very first music video, ‘Ice Cold Chillin,’ which was produced last month with local hip-hop producer and pianist Wendel Patrick.
When Paddock is not playing his saxophone or covering local music you might catch him around Pigtown or at one of the many Ravens or Orioles games. Paddock described Pigtown, where he owns two homes, as a promising neighborhood with great people and accessibility.
When asked what his biggest career goal was, Paddock told SouthBMore.com, “to play great music with cool bands,” which is exactly what he is doing.
To learn more about Scott Paddock, visit ScottPaddock.com.
