Tim Scott Jr. Is a Quiet Force in Charlotte’s Music Scene

At the top of Tim Scott Jr.’s New Year’s resolutions list this year was one item: learning to take credit for his accomplishments. There’s plenty to claim; Scott’s achievements within the music scene are so numerous they were hard to compile in the process of putting this article together.

The Buffalo, New York, native has toured extensively, notably as drummer for Grammy Award-winning hip-hop and neo-soul group The Foreign Exchange.

In a 2020 YouTube video of Scott’s jazz trio The Tim Scott Jr. Group performing at Crown Station, the drummer and percussionist’s in-the-pocket hi-hats hiss and flow like a cascading waterfall as he plays with power, precision and a sense of swing.

But there is much more to Scott than the talent he showcases onstage.

Scott has produced events like Charlotte rapper Lute’s first headlining gig at the Neighborhood Theatre in August 2024, hip-hop group Ghost Note’s show-stopping set at Charlotte SHOUT! in April 2024, and shows for nationally known artists as diverse as Missy Elliott, Gladys Knight and Norah Jones.

As musical director, Scott helped Quentin Talley shape the seasonal Soulful Noel celebration. He also lends his talent and expertise to Blumenthal Arts’ annual Black Notes Project festival.

Scott co-owns entertainment company Stand Out Saints, which specializes in artist marketing, consulting, tour direction, management, and staffing, alongside his wife, Kenya.

“Tim is an unsung hero in the city of Charlotte who has contributed, advocated for and innovated programs, careers, communities, and culture within the city, opening up doors and connecting many of the artists we admire locally today,” said Mariah Scott, Tim’s sister who is also an event organizer, curator, host and cultural producer based in Charlotte, known in local creative circles as Peculiar Hippie.

“I feel that my brother is owed acknowledgment and appreciation for his contributions to the city,” she continued. “He’s put in the work, which spans across genres, class or age. He truly has a heart for the people and has proved that in his service.”

Like the dominant member of a wolf pack, Scott has preferred leading from the back — but that changes this year.

“In 2025 I’m going … to stand up in front of my work and take the flowers that people try to give me,” Scott offers.“It’s time to come out of the shadows.”

From troublemaker to touring musician

Today Scott is a husband, father of four and an inspired artist who has made the study of music his life’s work, but when he first moved to Charlotte from Buffalo, he got off to a rocky start.

One day, Scott’s father, Timothy Scott Sr., a church minister of music who also toured and performed with gospel acts, announced that the family was moving to the Queen City. Although he was drawn to the drums at an early age, the younger Scott wanted to stay in Buffalo to study math and science.

Attending Northwest School of the Arts in 2000, the 12-year-old Scott decided to act out so he’d get sent back to Buffalo. Older classmates Adrian Crutchfield and Harvey Cummings II, both now accomplished saxophonists, had other ideas.

“They both pushed me into a corner,” Scott remembers. “Adrian lectured me about how my behavior at Northwest was going to leave me forgotten.”

The prospect of making an impact convinced Scott to check out the band room where his older classmates played.

“It changed my life forever,” Scott says.

He also credits the school’s music director, Michael Washington, with recognizing his leadership qualities.

“He was the first person to make me start honing skills like knowing the right people to call, listening to what they could do, and analyzing what situations best fit their skill sets,” Scott says.

At age 16, Scott embarked on his first tour with Northwest classmate and jazz saxophonist Ryan Saranich. After graduating from Northwest, Scott attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, where he proved to be a deft hand at networking. Restlessly curious, he kept his eyes and ears open around industry legends like Christopher Reid (aka Kid of Kid ‘n Play) who taught a hip-hop appreciation class.

In 2009, Saranich invited Scott to attend the Grammys. After the ceremony, Scott noticed that celebrities and musicians were still working the room and “on the clock” at the post-awards parties.

“The people who were chilling and enjoying themselves were the executives,” Scott says. “It got me thinking … maybe that’s where I need to go. I was mentally preparing myself [for] something bigger than just the stage.”

Back at NC Central, Scott assembled a band for NC R&B singer-songwriter Carlitta Durand and toured with her. At a Cat’s Cradle show in Carrboro, the band opened for The Foreign Exchange, the innovative hip-hop collective led by American rapper Phonte and Dutch record producer Nicolay.

Impressed with their opener’s set, Phonte and Nicolay asked Scott and Durand to join The Foreign Exchange. Scott says the four years he toured with the band was like his graduate school.

“I was surrounded by musical knowledge,” Scott notes. “I was watching, listening and paying attention.”

In 2012, former classmate Harvey Cummings II asked Scott to play and tour with Charlotte ensemble the Sol Fusion Band. Sol Fusion’s co-founder and owner Chris McClure, who is also a managing partner at talent booking agency EastCoast Entertainment, saw potential in Scott and took the drummer under his wing.

“[McClure] said, ‘You don’t think like a musician; you think like a business person,’” Scott remembers.

Balancing the roles of businessman and husband

After producing live EastCoast shows for The Steve Miller Band, Scott was hired by McClure as EastCoast’s assistant production coordinator. In that position, Scott produced 12 concerts a year — four in Charlotte, four in Charleston and four in Nashville.

In 2017, Sol Exchange was booked to perform at Center City Partners’ (CCCP) Vision Awards ceremony in Charlotte. Scott saw that the awards show’s producers were having difficulties communicating cues to the band during its live performance. He offered to step in with a head set and relay those cues from the floor.

Impressed with Scott’s professionalism and expertise, CCCP’s Chief Creative Officer Robert Krumbine offered Scott a position as the organization’s artist in residence. In that role, Scott spearheaded programs like the nonprofit civic and economic development initiative Music Everywhere.

After the residency ended, Scott went on to be event production coordinator for CCCP. Nowadays Scott continues to work with partners like CCCP, EastCoast Entertainment, Middle C Jazz and others as a contractor. In the meantime, Scott met the woman who would later become his wife, Kenya. The couple first connected as business partners before marrying in January 2022 in Washington, D.C.

“She had already established herself as a force in the mainstream hip-hop and R&B fields,” says Scott, noting that Kenya has worked with artists including DJ Oreo and Chance the Rapper.

Stand Out Saints was originally Kenya’s company, but now the couple are partners in the full service production, concert tour, management and media business. In fact, Lute’s first headlining show was planned and produced by the husband-and-wife team.

“I wanted to do something great for Charlotte and for the city’s hip-hop community, because I feel like the hip-hop community here is so underserved,” Scott says of the long-anticipated show.

Read more: Lute Talks ‘Gold Mouf,’ Anxiety and Dreamville Before First Local Headlining Gig

Stand Out Saints also works with artists like DJ Fannie Mae, Dennis Reed Jr. and their Sainted Trap Choir; LeRoy (formerly known as WELL$); and more. Scott also owns and operates TiMar Entertainment, an artist management, event production, consulting and mentorship business.

Looking back at 2024, Scott says it was a “full-circle” year that saw him reunited with old friends, including gigs with former classmate Adrian Crutchfield, and helping put together the 10th-anniversary Charlie Brown Christmas concert at his alma mater Northwest School of the Arts.

Looking ahead to 2025, Scott says plans are being laid for SHOUT!, as well as more touring for the self-described road warrior.

“I’m excited about being here in Charlotte and getting to do some amazing things for the city’s music community,” Scott says.

Scott is particularly stoked that he gets to do most of those things with the person he calls his best friend in the entire world, his wife Kenya.

“None of this would be possible without her,” Scott says. “I’m impressed with her every day.”

Above all, 2025 is the year when the master musician and consummate music industry leader will proudly tell people about the work he does and why he does it. The timing couldn’t be better.