Scott Kraus
Encyclopedia
Scott Kraus is an important American
rock
singer-songwriter
and musician
noted for coupling articulate and unique song lyrics with memorable melodies and guitar work. He is also one of the most obscure music legends to grace the roadways of Michigan
.
Although his work within the music industry is unfathomably important he is best known for his sardonic wit and lively antics in public. Known to entertain complete strangers on a whim, he is a staple of the Clarkston, MI area and a beloved visitor where ever he may go. Although his recorded works are few and far between, he still stands as one of the most prolific songwriters without a vast listening audience.
area, former hydroplane driver and relative of former FBI Director Clarence M. Kelley
. Wendy Kraus is a vital volunteer to the family business and a direct descendant of a man associated with Jesse James
. Kraus was an avid fan of Weird Al Yankovic and was known to listen to him for countless hours at a time. He picked up the guitar in the beginning of high school as a way to impress his peers. When they weren't impressed he just played it by himself. Encouraged from the start by his parents he took lessons from a man in a church. The lessons focused intensely on both songwriting and improvisation which heavily influenced his style of playing. When the instructor, Joe Mancuso, left to return to California, Kraus began taking lessons with Steve Risner at a local guitar shop which focused on technique and music theory.
in 2006 soon after he learned how to play guitar. The group, consisting of Kraus and the percussionist Brandon Mosher, played mostly improvised "jams" based around blues and jazz standards. The group eventually expanded, gaining influence in Clarkston's musical underground due to the sharp dichotomy between Sidetrack's focus on improvisation and most other bands focus on gaining popularity. Sidetracked eventually went on an indefinite hiatus as one of the two main members of the band, Mosher, went on to the Navy.
. He has been known to frequent bookstores, gunstores, and basements.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
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...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
noted for coupling articulate and unique song lyrics with memorable melodies and guitar work. He is also one of the most obscure music legends to grace the roadways of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Although his work within the music industry is unfathomably important he is best known for his sardonic wit and lively antics in public. Known to entertain complete strangers on a whim, he is a staple of the Clarkston, MI area and a beloved visitor where ever he may go. Although his recorded works are few and far between, he still stands as one of the most prolific songwriters without a vast listening audience.
Early life
Kraus was born in Clarkston, MI to Mark R. Kraus III and Wendy Kraus. Mark R. Kraus is a business owner in the WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
area, former hydroplane driver and relative of former FBI Director Clarence M. Kelley
Clarence M. Kelley
Clarence M. Kelley was a public servant who served as the 2nd Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation....
. Wendy Kraus is a vital volunteer to the family business and a direct descendant of a man associated with Jesse James
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
. Kraus was an avid fan of Weird Al Yankovic and was known to listen to him for countless hours at a time. He picked up the guitar in the beginning of high school as a way to impress his peers. When they weren't impressed he just played it by himself. Encouraged from the start by his parents he took lessons from a man in a church. The lessons focused intensely on both songwriting and improvisation which heavily influenced his style of playing. When the instructor, Joe Mancuso, left to return to California, Kraus began taking lessons with Steve Risner at a local guitar shop which focused on technique and music theory.
Sidetracked
Young Kraus joined the two piece trio SidetrackedSidetracked
Sidetracked is a crime novel by Swedish author Henning Mankell, the fifth in his Kurt Wallander series.-Synopsis:...
in 2006 soon after he learned how to play guitar. The group, consisting of Kraus and the percussionist Brandon Mosher, played mostly improvised "jams" based around blues and jazz standards. The group eventually expanded, gaining influence in Clarkston's musical underground due to the sharp dichotomy between Sidetrack's focus on improvisation and most other bands focus on gaining popularity. Sidetracked eventually went on an indefinite hiatus as one of the two main members of the band, Mosher, went on to the Navy.
Solo career
Kraus began his solo career as soon as Mosher abandoned the previous band. He began focusing on refining his songwriting skills and has been known to spend entire nights working out a single line in a song. With this change he shifted his main instrument from electric guitar to acoustic and has often played quieter venues such as the LA Cafe. He penned the hit "Desperate Desperado" after a particularly long night of jamming and proceeded to record right away. "It was like it flowed out of me like a river or something else that flows," said Kraus during an interview with noted columnist Scott Kraus.Personal life
Kraus has been known to be a recluse most of his life, scarcely going outside unless to fuel his addiction to Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
. He has been known to frequent bookstores, gunstores, and basements.
External links
- [www.myspace.com/ScottKrausisafelony]
- http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/Scotdizzle