Local folk artist Scott Schell to perform at Taber Museum
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"My music is very diverse, and my inspiration comes in many ways. It's almost like a formula; the words come first, and then the music...Paul McCartney was the opposite, but I do relate with him with the dreams and sometimes have to write them down immediately -- even at 4 a.m. in the morning because I do not want to lose them," said local folk musician Scott Schell.
The late Marian Schell, Scott's mother, "was my best editor," he said.
"She was nice and well-respected, but hard on me as she would always tell me, 'If I was going to do this, I better do it right,'" he said.
His mother was a minister's wife and his father was the Rev. Walter Schell.
"We lived in this area from the early 1970s," Schell said. "I started third grade, and I went to Montoursville then we moved Loyalsock. My father was also very well-liked."
Schell shared one of his first songs, "Ships on A Blue Sea," with a photograph of him on the ocean. Schell said he loves to go to Eagles Mere with John Piper, who is also a preacher, and the non-denominational church in Eagles Mere as they are very open-minded.
"I play at the church there and they are very open to me playing my original music. In Eagles Mere, they have four to five churches open during the summer, but the one open I play at, is open all year and should be called 'The Church of Fresh Air.' I also play locally at Pine Street.
"I play (everything) from bassets to baseball," Schell laughed.
As a child and in adulthood, vacations to Ocean City, New Jersey, influenced Schell's music and he excitedly said there is a Doo Dah parade in Ocean City every year. He wrote the song, "Dog Parade" as he was inspired by "the 501 basset hounds" in the parade and how they were dressed. The Ocean City Chamber of Commerce loved his songs and Schell was invited back to play the next year. He produced this in his album "Doo Dah Parade, Memories of the Ocean City, New Jersey" with 19 songs, from "Waggin' Tails" to "We Shall Dream of Our Dear Ocean City."
"I usually do three to four songs a month, and then I have a home studio," Schell said. "I have done 27 CDs with CD Baby and now 'I Think I'll Buy a Bassett Hound' is one of my most viral songs right now as 100 viewers climbing each week which is shown by the analytics."
Schell has also always loved the Little League Baseball World Series. Tom O'Malley and Mike Mussina, two Major League Baseball players both raised in Montoursville, inspired many of his songs. Schell said he would love to someday play his songs for the Little League World Series. His newest CD, "The Year Little League Didn't Play," talks of his love for the game.
He emphasized that Little League is "welcome to use any" of his songs, and mentioned that longtime broadcaster of the Little League World Series, Ken Sawyer, is trying to get his music to them.
When he was younger, he started playing in a band but said "it was easier to go solo." Schell went on to study at Lycoming College and has become a teacher of music. He mentioned how it's challenging "to be a musician and a businessperson, to find that balance."
Schell said his creativity doesn't stop and all his songs are consistent in that they have a meter and a rhyme, although the subject may change.
As well as singing and playing music Schell loves teaching guitar, singing, violin, piano and "basically any string instrument."
He is sometimes awed as he looks back and has been teaching since he was 15 years old, which is a little more than 50 years. Schell reiterated, "how it's really neat, online they show the age-range of my audience, and it stems from approximately 18 years old to 65 years old!"
To date, Schell has written more than 400 songs. He creates songs by characters, and often gives a little history in his songs. Some of his albums include: "Never Ever Quit," "The Doo-Dah Parade-Memories of Ocean City, New Jersey," and "Where the Hearts and Hands Are One." Schell also brings in faith-based songs like the "Jesus I Know" and "God is Love."
"It's funny -- sometimes I will be cutting the grass, and an idea comes to me, and I stop cutting the grass just to run in and jot it down," Schell said.
Schell has two YouTube channels with over 300 subscribers. Schell's outlook and his idea to "remain positive" has helped him in his teaching and love for music. He mentioned how children may have an illness and he is "a kinder gentler teacher as compared to tougher teachers." Schell has played at the Victorian Christmas at the Pajama Factory and at the Backhouse Cafe in Williamsport.
"I also had medical issues and people around me were so positive while waiting for a transplant," Schell shared. "In 2011, and I wrote songs to my good care in my CD 'Where Hearts and Hands Are One.' My dad was very positive, Reverend Walter and Marian Schell always wanted me to do what I wanted to do and were open-minded. My dad would say, 'That was a good one!' And I love to make people happy!'"
Schell gave appreciation to Kay Huffman from the Williamsport Music Club, as she connected him with Gary Parks, the executive director at the Taber Museum, where he will be performing from 2-3 p.m. on Sunday. At the show, he will be playing a mix of 14 baseball and local songs. He said his favorites are "Baseball Days" and "The Year Little League Didn't Play."