Scott Nygaard

Scott Nygaard is one of bluegrass' most eclectic guitar players. A former member of Laurie Lewis and Grant Street, Nygaard has been an essential member of Tim O'brien's O'Boys since 1991. In addition to occasional sideman gigs with stellar musicians as Tony Furtado, Todd Phillips, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Vassar Clements, Mike Marshall, Richard Greene, Kathy Kallick, and Norton Buffalo, Nygaard (pronounced: NYE-guard) has produced two memorable solo albums featuring his highly-melodic flatpicking.



Although he spent his early childhood in Athens, OH, Nygaard moved to southern California, with his father and older brother Steve, after his parents were divorced in 1960. While he took piano lessons for two years, beginning at the age of seven, and cello lessons for six years, from the age of nine, Nygaard switched to the guitar after receiving a six-stringed instrument for a 16th birthday present. After graduating from Millikan High School in Long Beach, CA, and briefly attending the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, Nygaard joined his first band, the Sou'wester String Band, in 1974.

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