Larry Scott

(From Max Slayton Funerals)

Larry Scott was born September 27th, 1938. He was called home to glory shortly after midnight July 10, 2016 in Kaufman County, TX . He leaves behind wife Gail and son Kelly and many 100s of friends long with a great legacy, told briefly in the words below.

His life has a story book quality. It started as a young boy growing up in Southwestern, MO. He was the only child of Omer and Dorothy Scott. They were a hard working farm family near Stark City, MO. As farm families did in that era, they began working at sun up in the fields, stopped for lunch, then continued work until nearly dusk. Well for young Larry those lunch time breaks soon gave birth to the inspiration in which he would spend a lifetime pursuing. His love of radio began around that ol’ dinner table when he and his Dad came in from the fields. As was custom, they listened to the Ag reports and then listened to live broadcasts from Pappy O’Daniel’s Light Crust Dough Boys, Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys just to mention a few. He was mesmerized by Red Foley, “The Voice of the Ozarks “and patterned himself after Red, who had such style and perfect delivery and at the same time staying in touch with the people. He started his first radio job at KBTN in 1954 at the age of 16, a small but widely listened to station in Neosho, MO. It did not take long for the seed to fully take root. It was there his legendary career, spanning 60 years was born. 

His first love was Southern Gospel. Soon after stepping on the air waves he began promoting Gospel music shows and met, perhaps the greatest Gospel Song writer ever, Albert E Brumley. They began traveling together selling song books and promoting Albert’s songs which would eventually lead to the Sun Up to Sun Down gospel singing in Springdale, AR. The bond between Albert, Goldie and the Brumley boys was instant and they all became life-long friends. Soon after his graduation he went to Springfield, MO and auditioned for the Ozark Jubilee. Falling short of the job he decided he needed to have a trade to rely on in case this radio thing did not pan out. So of all things, he decided to go to embalming school in Nashville, TN. He had an on air position with WAGG in Franklin, TN, worked as an ambulance driver and attended John C. Gupton School of Mortuary Science. All the while the good Lord was behind the scenes molding the future Career of Larry Scott. While in Nashville he soaked up the music business like a fresh sponge and he hung out at places like the Grand Ole Opry, The Ernest Tubb record shop, Tootsie’s Orchid lounge, meeting everyone who were part of Country music.

After embalming school in Nashville he returned home to KBTN in Neosho and pursue his mortuary career. Soon after, he got a call from Al Brumley, Jr. and Al told him if he ever wanted to be anything in the entertainment business he had to get out of Missouri and head to the West Coast. He packed his bags and to California he went. After all, that is where dreams can come true.

He landed in Bakersfield and began working at KUZZ country radio and was an instant hit. He met and became lifelong friends with great entertainers such as Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Red Steagall, Billy Mize and countless others. Not only was Larry an on-air personality but had a gospel television show to boot.

He left KUZZ to be program director at KVEG in Las Vegas. He left Vegas after a short time and came to KBOX in DALLAS IN 1966 to make it the first 24 hour country music station in the DFW metroplex. There he formed another life-long friendship with Bill Ward. Larry asked Bill if he would like to go to the Coast and Bill jumped at the opportunity. In June 1967, Bill left KBOX and went to KBBQ in Burbank, CA taking Larry with him. When the owner of KBBQ passed away and the station sold. Bill had made the move earlier to the 50,000 watt power house KLAC in Los Angeles. Bill hired Larry and sent him to WIL in Saint Louis to gain more experience. While there he was honored to be the color man with esteemed play by play announcer Harry Caray. His heart was in LA and he made another journey to the coast and stepped behind the microphone at KLAC in Los Angeles. Within a year he was voted the 2nd most popular Disc Jockey in LA. The Academy of Country Music voted him 4 times for radio personality of the year between 1968 and 1974 as well as KLAC being the best country music station. While at KLAC he started the first all night Interstate road show called the Phantom 570 club that boasted over 8000 members in 1975. Country Radio ruled Southern California and sitting at the helm was Larry Scott.

On July 20, 1974, he married Gail Watson and on May 16,1975, she gave birth to their only child, Kelly. In December of 1975 Larry and the family moved to Wichita, KS to KFDI with his friend Mike Oatman and Great Empire Broadcasting. If you remember earlier in this story I mentioned Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Dad had three loves besides Mom and I. They were gospel, country and Western Swing. Bob Wills had passed away May 13, 1975, 3 days prior to my birth. The band was without their leader and were still loved. Larry and Mike had common roots in western swing and they took the reins to preserve and promote that one of a kind sound. They booked them at the Cotillion Ball Room in Wichita. There the revitalization of the Texas Playboys began. 

In September 1977, Larry accepted the program director job at KJJJ in Phoenix, AZ. So once again the happy caravan loaded up and were westward bound. Larry spent less than a year in Phoenix and found himself back at KLAC in Los Angeles where he continued blazing his own road into music history.

In 1979 the owners of Metro Media sent him to Dallas once again but this time to KRLD. Larry moved the family to Texas and found a home and land in Kaufman County. Whether he knew it or not roots were planted firmly as Mom was a native Texan and told him she would support him 100% but was not moving again. Dad agreed as he had a deep love for Mom and Texas as the qualities in each were the same, thus began his weekly commute to LA.

He was at KRLD until the fall of 1980 when their format changed from music to all talk. KLAC called again. He commuted DAL-LAX until 1982. Radio was changing in LA and KLAC changed its format from country to top 40. He left LA and Mike Oatman called again, this time to KWKH which was the esteemed Louisiana Hayride, in Shreveport, LA. He continued the all night interstate road show for 14 years. In late 1998, KWKH was sold and he went to another Great Empire Broadcasting Station, KVOO Tulsa, again commuting. After some years there he partially retired from radio. He still recorded syndicated shows from his studio at his Lucky G Studio as well as continue promoting the Texas Playboys and younger artists who were continuing the legacy of Western Swing, good country music and cowboy music.

In 1984 he was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in Nashville, in 1999 The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, The Academy of Western Artists, The Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, The Texas Gospel Music association Hall of Fame 2007, four time Disc Jockey of the Year for the Academy of Country Music and honored as Disc Jockey Large Market 1980 for the Country Music Association. He was a charter member of the Academy of Country Music and The Gospel Music Association. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Academy of Country Music with 8 others.

I can tell you this with certainty. This short synopsis of his life does not come close to doing him justice. Despite all the accolades and fame he received over the years, he was the most humble, down to earth person you would ever want to know. In the beginning Albert E Brumley gave him a piece of advice he carried throughout his entire life. Albert said “If you never get far from the folks, then you will never be too far from the main stream”. Dad was grateful God gifted him with the ability to make people happy. He emceed gospel, country and swing shows across the US. Over the years he touched more lives and helped countless careers than even he knew. He was a gentle and kind man, great husband, wonderful father and most important a devout Christian. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he is with our heavenly Father right now. As our dear friend and first pastor. Dr. Dick Sisk, when we moved to Texas said weeks before his death, “I have no doubt whatsoever that Larry’s last breath on earth will be his first in Heaven”. Dad, Mom and I will miss you more than anyone can imagine but we revel in the fact that we will see you again in Glory. Thank you for doing more than existing in Life but in leaving a legacy that made a difference. As you said so many times, “that ole clock on the wall says it’s time to go, so until the next time we meet have a great day, Goodnight and God Bless.”

A celebration of Larry’s life will be held by the family at a later date where these, and many more accomplishments and memories, will be joyfully shared together by every one whose lives he touched.