Scott Mayo

With more than 30 years of music industry experience, Scott Mayo brings a unique musical perspective and skill set ranging from record production, composition, and musical direction to Grammy-winning writing, arranging and performing. He is one of the top call musicians in Los Angeles.

Mayo released his third album, Meu Brasil in January 2023. Meu Brasil is his first Brazilian project and features maestro Sergio Mendes, guitarists/composers Dori Caymmi and Guinga and the voice of Gracinha Leporace, among others.

“This album is an homage to a music and a country that has so deeply shaped my musical life. It’s called Meu Brasil because I wanted to share how the music has touched me and, from my Black American perspective, how I feel the music.”

Additionally, Mayo performed on screen and on the soundtrack for the 2022 film Babylon, recorded on the critically-acclaimed television series Better Call Saul, on Beyonce’s smash, new album Renaissance, John Legend’s new album Legend, and on Oscar-nominated composerTerence Blanchard’s score of Father Of The Bride remake. Spring 2022 saw Mayo performing as part of the 94th Academy Awards orchestra and the 64th annual Grammy Awards with legendary rapper, Nas. In autumn 2021, Mayo recorded on “You Deserve It All” by megastar John Legend. Summer 2021 had Scott playing all the woodwinds on the Netflix Children’s animation Ada Twist, Scientist founded by President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama.

Mayo performed in the Inaugural Ceremony of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. In spring 2020, Mayo arranged and recorded the horns on John Legend’s most recent Grammy-winning album, Bigger Love. Mayo recorded on Stony Hill the Grammy-winning album by Damian Marley. Mayo performed, arranged and recorded on the Grammy-nominated album, A Legendary Christmas, by John Legend. In 2018, Mayo sang on Egypt Station, by the Sir Paul McCartney. Additionally, Mayo served as the Musical Director for the Emmy Awards Governors Ball performances where he led the Scott Mayo Collective through four nights of music before a who’s who of the television industry.

No stranger to television, Mayo served as an arranger and multi-instrumentalist in the Dancing with the Stars house band, writing for and playing saxophones, flutes and clarinets. Mayo performed and arranged horns for the CW Network Christmas special, The Black Pack starring Taye Diggs and Ne-Yo. He also performed on The Voice, Primetime Emmy Awards, The Tonight Show, American Idol and The Singing Bee. Mayo sung on the soundtrack for the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He also played on the soundtracks for The Good Dinosaur, Epic, Happy Feet Two and the 2019 movie Little.

Other projects include recordings for children’s television shows, The Help Squad for Apple TV, the Netflix hit, animated series, Go Dog Go and Wallykazam! for Nick Jr., P. King Duckling for Disney Junior and the PBS children’s show Odd Squad. He has also played on the score for the Hulu network show Queens. Mayo has also been a staff composer for the HBO hit The Larry Sanders Show starring Garry Shandling and the CBS show High Society starring veteran actress Jean Smart.

Mayo is currently the Musical Director and writing partner for Brazilian music icon, Sergio Mendes. 2020 saw the release of Mendes’ latest recording project, In The Key Of Joy where Mayo served multiple roles of singer, arranger and songwriter on the song “Sabor do Rio” with Mendes and Grammy and Academy Award winner Common.

Mayo is also an integral part of Mendes’ Grammy- nominated album, MAGIC, co-writing “Don’t Say Goodbye,” with Mendes and John Legend, “Visions of You” with Mendes and Janelle Monae and the title track, “Magic” with Mendes. Mayo also arranged the music for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for Mendes’ 2016 summer concerts commemorating the 50th year of Brasil ’66. Additionally, Mayo was the arranger and music contractor for Mendes’ Latin Grammy winning album Bom Tempo.

Mayo received a Best R&B Album Grammy nomination for producing the Oleta Adams album, Moving On. Mayo also received a Grammy nomination as the featured performer on Gerald Wilson’s “Romance: Theme from Monterey.” In 2012, Mayo produced Drawn to You, the 12th album from jazz vocalist, Kevyn Lettau. The album also includes Mayo’s talents as a singer, musician and arranger.

Mayo was featured playing saxophone and flute during the 2014 BET Awards tribute to Lionel Richie. In 2013, Mayo performed in the house band for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards and for the MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute to Bruce Springsteen. At the 2011 Grammy Awards, Mayo shared the stage with Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq during a tribute to the late “King of Rock n’ Soul,” Solomon Burke. During the 2011 BET Awards, Mayo was the featured soloist honoring the late Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Mayo was also featured playing with Queen Latifah as part of 2011 BET Awards tribute to seventies jazz poet, Gil Scott-Heron.

Among R&B audiences, Mayo is perhaps best known for his work with, Earth, Wind & Fire. Mayo toured with the group for more than six years playing saxophone and flute. He is particularly lauded for his stirring on-stage saxophone solo during the beloved hit, “Reasons” featured on the Earth, Wind & Fire: Plugged In & Live album.

In addition to the previously mentioned artists, Mayo has worked with many of music’s most acclaimed performers including: Bruno Mars, Dr. Dre, Beyonce, Lizzo, Marc Ronson, Damian Marley, Jay-Z, Pitbull, Neil Young, Tiffany Haddish, Latto, Ne-Yo, Juanes, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Sheryl Crow, Dori Caymmi, Carrie Underwood, Seal, Jennifer Hudson, Sting, Ivan Lins, Blake Shelton, Carlinhos Brown, Mariah Carey, Ceelo, Andy Grammer, Herb Alpert, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Seu Jorge, Tim McGraw, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, Shakira, Luther Vandross and Bonnie Raitt and a host of others.