FRANK SCOTT AWARD

Frank Scott (1923-1995) was a Reading blues-jazz tenor saxophonist who performed with Bill Haley and the Comets, Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, and the Inkspots (Book 2005). Scott led several Berks bands and recorded several albums, the most recent of which, “Never Too Old to Dream,” was released in 1988 (Berks Art Council 2005). Tagged “The Night Train Man” for his house-rocking signature piece, he was a staple in jazz-tuned Reading nightspots. Scott owned several nightclubs in Reading, including the Melody Bar, Zanzibar, and two bottle clubs on Penn Street (Book 2005). Scott also taught music at the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Arts. Scott was later inducted into the Central PA Friends of Jazz Hall of Fame in 1994.

The Frank Scott Award, presented annually by Berks Arts, was founded and is sponsored by the Jerlyn Foundation, led by Carolyn and Jerry Holleran, who were longtime friends of the well-known local jazz saxophonist, Frank Scott. The award honors Scott’s memory and his contribution to Berks County’s jazz heritage. The award has been given to notable musicians since 2005.

PAST RECIPIENTS:

2005/Robert “Doc” Mulligan * 2006/Toni Lynne * 2007/Al Seifarth * 2008/Mike Eben * 2009/Erwin Chandler * 2010/Chris Heslop * 2011/Marty Mellinger * 2012/David Cullen * 2013/Tim Price * 2014/Glen Brumbach * 2015/Mike Anderson * 2016/Skip Moyer * 2017/Cliff Starkey * 2018/Sam Marabella * 2019/Carl Zeplin * 2020/Bennie Sims * 2021/Josh Taylor * 2022/Maria Damore * 2023/Reading Musical Foundation * 2024/Will Rapp * 2025/John Evans * 2026/Susan Pena