- From Duncan, Oklahoma. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Started playing banjo at age 13.
- At age 18, landed his first pro job with Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers (one year).
- Age 19, moved to Texas and formed a band with brother Curtis and Russell Moore called Southern Connection.
- 1985, joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver.
- 1990, formed a group called Livewire.
- 1992, released a solo project “In Pursuit of Happiness” (no label).
- 1994, with David Parmley, formed Continental Divide.
- 1996, won IBMA award for Banjo Player of the Year (co-winner with Sammy Shelor).
- 1998-2003, worked with the John Cowan Band.
- Producer of series of annual instrumental albums (The “Bluegrass” series), which won the IBMA award for Recorded Event of the Year in 1996.
- First to popularize the “stealth” banjo: a five-string banjo with a hidden fifth-string tuning peg.
- 2000, released Millenia album (Pinecastle).
- 2003, joined Rock County. Also worked with Longview and Shawn Camp.
- 2004, joined Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time.
- 2006, joined the Sam Bush Band.
- 2006, he and his wife Alice recorded Going to the Dance album.
- 2017, won the Steve Martin prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass (which comes with a $50,000 check).
Vestal, Scott
