Byron “I'm a Wi-i-i-ldcat” Scott

By Kevin Byrne

As best as I recall, I first met Byron sometime in 1977. He had just hitchhiked into town from El Paso with Rick Nunes. He was playing on “the Drag” doing his best Django Reinhardt with his guitar case open, working for spare change and a dream. Since it was 30 years ago, the particulars are difficult, but this as best as I remember it. Byron would have been about 22 then and he was full of life and full of music. He played an old acoustic guitar left handed and without reversing the strings which suggested to me he was self taught. He was a pleasure to listen to and soon he was living on the porch at that old house on Avenue B and 42 nd Street with Mark Botts, Joel Shyrack, Augie Moser and whoever else I am forgetting. I was living at the so-called “Mars Hotel” on Cedar Street (with Randy “Mr. Biscuit” Turner in the backyard in his garage apartment) at the time, but moved into the house on Avenue B in 1978. We would get together for large impromptu dinners and fueled by Carlo Rossi and what ever else was around, would engage in those all night jam sessions. Byron was the only one of us that could actually play in those days, but we were eager students (even if we couldn't figure out what he was doing playing that guitar of his upside down and all). I remember the time that I came down ill with something I had picked up in Central America and everybody in the house split just as fast as they could, except Byron who helped my Dad and I pack up my stuff for my recovery in Houston. Maybe it was because he was the only one that didn't have a car.

By 1979 and 1980 while I was working at the old Mike and Charlie's Restaurant and trying to get a band going, it was always a treat when Byron would come by to sit in. Then in 1981, Byron, Greg Surrey, C. Mac and Tom Rowsey invited me to join the Trouble Boys and we began one of the most interesting chapters my life playing straight rockabilly with what the Austin Chronicle once described as “punk theatrics” whatever that meant. For the next 2 years I spoke with Byron nearly everyday. Though I had the good fortune to sing most of the songs for the band, Byron was our musical leader and I suppose our spiritual leader as well. He gave the Trouble Boys its distinctive sound with his 1959 Stratocaster. He wrote most of our original material and did the artwork on all of our posters (of which I still have many in a box somewhere). He had an amazing stage presence and could always knock out playful rockabilly versions of rock classics when prompted. He could do it all. He worked very closely with Alice Berry when she began singing with us in developing the arrangements for all of her great songs. It was a great ride! All of those outdoor gigs at Auditorium Shores and what's that other riverfront place down the river in East Austin called? Lots of shows at Club Foot, Liberty Lunch, Soap Creek, Continental Club (where we headlined New Years Eve in 2002/2003), opening for Rank and File at their record release party at Rockefeller's in Houston, and of course our opening for the Clash at the old Austin Coliseum. I thought we were the luckiest band in Austin, but none of it would have been possible without Byron. I remember our last gig at Xalapeno Charlie's in July of 1983. The band had already broken up, and we were doing a farewell show. I was leaving for California in a few days. He gave me a hug and wished me luck.

I would only see Byron a few more times on a couple of my visits back to Austin, and I saw him out in California once, maybe twice. But Byron would go on to form some of Austin's signature bands and influence a whole new generation of musicians. I envy those of you that knew him in his later years as he was a great man and at one time for me a least, a great friend and I know he will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.