Artist Listening Party ~ Rena Scott

This is our Extra Effort Forum Side B. With special guest world renowned recording artist Ms. Rena Scott. About the Artist Starting out at age 12 in her hometown Detroit, singing for local Baptist congregations, singer Rena Scott entered her first talent contest at age 13. Soon afterwards came her very first recording “I Just Can’t Forget That Boy”, while still in high school. She blossomed as a performer, and began playing two or three gigs a night on weekends at local nightclubs. She opened for many of the Motown acts like The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Originals and many other popular artists. When the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin (also a native Detroiter) needed a third backup singer for a few gigs, the then 18 year old Scott got her million-to-one shot at singing onstage with her idol at the Pine Knob Ski Resort in Northern Michigan, and more importantly, in front of thousands at Carnegie Hall! “It was beyond my wildest imagination, the lights, the orchestra, the feeling of singing with her [Aretha] after loving her music for so long”, says Scott. “But it wasn’t just an amazing opportunity to sing with her, it fueled me musically and spiritually for the rest of my life. My time with Aretha didn’t last much longer - just a few more gigs and singing backup on one of her albums - but it was enough. In those days, I patterned my own singing after hers’.” Scott then started working to develop her own style as she listened to other artists like Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, and Barbra Streisand. She emerged with a unique sound. Having had that one night experience at Carnegie, Scott vowed she would return there someday to perform. (More on show page)