Scott Blasey
Encyclopedia
Scott Blasey is an American rock
musician best known as the lead vocalist for The Clarks
, a position he has held since the band's inception. Aside from The Clarks, he also has a successful solo career, and three studio albums have been credited to him.
in 1982. He then began attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania
. There, he met guitarist Rob James, bassist Greg Joseph, and drummer Dave Minarik. Blasey, James, and Minarik first began playing together as "The Administration." When Joseph joined the three in 1986, they became "The Clarks." Initially a cover band
, the quartet soon started writing and performing original material, with much of the writing output being by Blasey and Joseph.
Blasey graduated from IUP in 1987. Soon afterward, The Clarks entered the recording studio. Their first studio album
, I'll Tell You What Man...
, was released in 1988. The song "Help Me Out" received some Western Pennsylvania radio airplay, and was a local success. I'll Tell You what Man... was followed by The Clarks
in 1991, which introduced "Penny on the Floor." Love Gone Sour, Suspicion, and Bad Debt
(1994) and Someday Maybe
(1996) followed, introducing "Cigarette" and "Mercury", respectively.
In 1995, Blasey's first solo album, Don't Try This at Home, was released. It was recorded at Studio L in Weirton, West Virginia
, and was a moderate success. In a very favorable review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
wrote that his "grasp of the nuances of rock 'n' roll's moral landscape has put him at the front ranks of the regional music scene for years." It went on to say, "What Don't Try This at Home reveals exactly is the full range of Blasey's emotional timbre unencumbered by the bombast of Top 40 considerations." Acoustic versions of some Clarks songs, like "Mercury", "Courtney", and "Flame", were included. In all, five of the songs from Don't Try This at Home ended up on The Clarks' album Someday Maybe.
Blasey's second solo album, Shine, was released in 1999, and found much success with Clarks fans. Critic Tracy Collins, in a favorable review, noted Blasey's "engaging, pop-culture-savvy writing". Among other songs on it was "Born Too Late." A year later, it would be re-recorded and featured prominently on The Clarks fifth studio album, Let It Go.
Over the course of the 2000s, Blasey recorded four studio albums with The Clarks: Let it Go (2000), Another Happy Ending
(2002), Fast Moving Cars
(2004), and Restless Days
(2009). He continues to play with The Clarks as well as solo shows, mostly throughout the Pittsburgh region. In 2007, he released his third and most recent studio album, Travelin' On, recorded in Dallas with producer Salim Nourallah
. Much of the album's lyrical content is based around his home life and his move from Pittsburgh to Texas, and it includes a song about his daughter Sofia.
The Blasey's have three daughters.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician best known as the lead vocalist for The Clarks
The Clarks
The Clarks are an American rock band from the Pittsburgh region, originating at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Over the course of twenty years, they have produced a total of 12 studio, live and solo releases, selling near a quarter of a million copies....
, a position he has held since the band's inception. Aside from The Clarks, he also has a successful solo career, and three studio albums have been credited to him.
Biography
Born in Connellsville, PA, Scott Blasey graduated from Connellsville Area Senior High SchoolConnellsville Area Senior High School
Connellsville Area High School is a public high school, located in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It is operated by the Connellsville Area School District. The school has a census of approximately 1325 of students in grades 10-12.-School history:...
in 1982. He then began attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
. There, he met guitarist Rob James, bassist Greg Joseph, and drummer Dave Minarik. Blasey, James, and Minarik first began playing together as "The Administration." When Joseph joined the three in 1986, they became "The Clarks." Initially a cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
, the quartet soon started writing and performing original material, with much of the writing output being by Blasey and Joseph.
Blasey graduated from IUP in 1987. Soon afterward, The Clarks entered the recording studio. Their first studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, I'll Tell You What Man...
I'll Tell You What Man...
I'll Tell You What Man... is the 1988 debut album by Pittsburgh band The Clarks. The album was the band's first release, created while the musicians were still in college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania...
, was released in 1988. The song "Help Me Out" received some Western Pennsylvania radio airplay, and was a local success. I'll Tell You what Man... was followed by The Clarks
The Clarks (album)
The Clarks is a 1991 eponymous second album by Pittsburgh band The Clarks. Like their debut album, it was an independent release, but the album quickly gained a cult following in Western Pennsylvania and became a popular album in Pittsburgh. When WDVE, Pittsburgh's largest rock station, began...
in 1991, which introduced "Penny on the Floor." Love Gone Sour, Suspicion, and Bad Debt
Love Gone Sour, Suspicion, and Bad Debt
Love Gone Sour, Suspicion, and Bad Debt is the 1994 third album by Pittsburgh band The Clarks. With the last album becoming a staple on Pittsburgh rock stations, the singles from this album gained quick and ample affection from Western Pennsylvania rock fans...
(1994) and Someday Maybe
Someday Maybe
Someday Maybe is the 1996 fourth album by Pittsburgh band The Clarks. The record constituted both the band's first and last major label release. After two successful local records on a self-created label, MCA inked a deal with the band, giving them at least a shot at national success...
(1996) followed, introducing "Cigarette" and "Mercury", respectively.
In 1995, Blasey's first solo album, Don't Try This at Home, was released. It was recorded at Studio L in Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton is a city located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, United States. Most of the city is in Hancock County, with the remainder in Brooke County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,411...
, and was a moderate success. In a very favorable review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
wrote that his "grasp of the nuances of rock 'n' roll's moral landscape has put him at the front ranks of the regional music scene for years." It went on to say, "What Don't Try This at Home reveals exactly is the full range of Blasey's emotional timbre unencumbered by the bombast of Top 40 considerations." Acoustic versions of some Clarks songs, like "Mercury", "Courtney", and "Flame", were included. In all, five of the songs from Don't Try This at Home ended up on The Clarks' album Someday Maybe.
Blasey's second solo album, Shine, was released in 1999, and found much success with Clarks fans. Critic Tracy Collins, in a favorable review, noted Blasey's "engaging, pop-culture-savvy writing". Among other songs on it was "Born Too Late." A year later, it would be re-recorded and featured prominently on The Clarks fifth studio album, Let It Go.
Over the course of the 2000s, Blasey recorded four studio albums with The Clarks: Let it Go (2000), Another Happy Ending
Another Happy Ending
Another Happy Ending is the 2002 sixth album by Pittsburgh band The Clarks. The band's popularity continued to spread following the release of this album, as rock stations in Buffalo and Reading, Pennsylvania begin playing the record's lead single. However, Pittsburgh remained as the band's core...
(2002), Fast Moving Cars
Fast Moving Cars
Fast Moving Cars is the 2004 seventh album by Pittsburgh band The Clarks. The album is more optimistic than previous Clarks albums, mainly because the band members were becoming increasingly satisfied in their personal relationships...
(2004), and Restless Days
Restless Days (The Clarks album)
Restless Days is the eighth studio album by Pittsburgh band The Clarks. It was released on June 9, 2009.- Track listing :# "True Believer" # "Inside" # "Trampoline" # "Midnight Rose" # "Soul and Skin"...
(2009). He continues to play with The Clarks as well as solo shows, mostly throughout the Pittsburgh region. In 2007, he released his third and most recent studio album, Travelin' On, recorded in Dallas with producer Salim Nourallah
Salim Nourallah
Salim Nourallah is a Texas-based singer, songwriter, and producer.-Music career:Born in Alton, Illinois on May 3, 1967, the eldest child of Fayez and Karen Nourallah, Nourallah was raised in El Paso, Texas, where his family moved when he was three. With his brother Faris, Salim relocated to...
. Much of the album's lyrical content is based around his home life and his move from Pittsburgh to Texas, and it includes a song about his daughter Sofia.
Personal life
Scott Blasey has been married to Denise Blasey since 2004. They moved to Dallas later that year, and returned to western Pennsylvania in 2007.The Blasey's have three daughters.
Solo work
- Don't Try This at Home, 1995
- Shine, 1999
- Travelin' On (2007)