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SCOTT GUNTER Like many of the people working on the business side of the music industry, Scott Gunter started out with dreams of stardom. As a teenager in Dacula, Georgia he began playing in Country, Rock and Christian bands and even took a trip to Nashville where he visited a friend in the Belmont University Music Business program. Eventually realizing that his musical chops were, in his words, “pitiful” he settled into various blue collar jobs like digging ditches and working on cars. A couple years of that was enough to motivate him to enroll at Belmont University. During that time, he interned or worked part time at various studios, record companies and management companies. His first full time job was at RCA Records working in the mailroom, while also working for Owen Bradley’s studio (Music City Music Hall). During that period he assistant engineered on many artists’ projects including Keith Whitley, Charley Pride, and Janie Frickie. After working at RCA, then Masterfonics, for another 6 years he got a call from his friend Chris Oglesby at Almo/Irving, asking him if he wanted to work in publishing. Not knowing what it was but being tired of the studio world he thought he would give it a shot. From day one Scott fell in love with songwriters and the songwriting process. His years working with Almo/Irving president David Conrad, now Executive V.P. of A&R for Mercury/MCA Records, gave him invaluable insight into song craft, the creative process and business ethics. Over the 10 years that he’s been at Almo/Irving Scott has worked with great songwriters like Kent Robbins (“Love Is Alive”-The Judds & “Write This Down”-George Strait) Craig Wiseman (“Another day In Paradise”-Phil Vasser  & “Everywhere”-Tim McGraw), Annie Roboff (“This Kiss”,Faith Hill & ”Unbroken” Tim McGraw) and Mike Reid ( Bonnie Raitte’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me”.) Although inspired by the established writers whose songs he finds homes for, his true passion is in discovering new talent and helping them realize their dreams. When Steve Robson, a writer from the Almo/Irving London office, came to Nashville, Scott’s guidance led him to many successful collaborations including Rascall Flats’ “These Days.” When Bluebird Cafe host Barbara Cloyd set up a meeting between him and Anthony Smith his faith in the previously unsigned writer led to a staff writing job at Almo/Irving, hits like “Run”-George Strait & “I’m Tryin’”-Trace Adkins, and Anthony’s current status as a rising star on the Mercury label. Now that Universal has acquired Almo Irving, the name on the letterhead has changed, but it is business as usual for Scott.