Bishop Leonard Scott - Live From Alabama

By Peggy Oliver

As a dentist, Dr. Leonard Scott enjoyed enhancing smiles. As a minister, Bishop Leonard Scott thrives on seeing smiles on newborn Christians. The founder of Tyscot Records, celebrating thirty years as the oldest independently black-owned Gospel label, heads to New Hope Baptist Church in Birmingham for the latest CD, Hymns & Church Songs-Live From Alabama. Music played a major role in Scott’s life as a versatile instrumentalist (woodwinds and guitars) and vocalist.

While attending Indiana State, he hooked with a funk band, The Soul Messengers. Studying dentistry, raising a family, and the gigs would take its toll. Eventually the Lord interceded and Scott surrendered his life plus devoting the music totally to the Gospel.

In 1976, Tyscot Records, named after Scott and Minister Craig Tyson from Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, originated with mostly regional quartets and choirs. The roster then grew from Detroit’s Derrick Brinkley to Chicago’s Bishop Larry Trotter & Sweet Holy Spirit. Some of Scott’s recordings have been fueled by revered worshippers like pastor Gary Oliver and Morris Chapman. Along with music, Scott and his wife formed Rock Community Church in 2000, and serves on the board of directors at Aenon Bible College.

Eight plus minutes of jam-packed, foot-stomping pure adoration launches the project with the Pentecostal Praise Medley: I Don’t Mind Giving God The Praise, Praise The Lord Everybody, One Day, Living, and He Loved Me.

With Caribbean undertones, the first of two Scott’s originals, Sing Unto The Lord, finds the congregation in a sing off with the choir declaring: “He’s done marvelous things” (Revelation 15:3).

Bless The Lord O My Soul, also written by Scott, is blessed to death with soloist Haley Mitchell’s praise skyrockets. Chronicling the resurrection, He Arose slowly builds tension up to the rolling of the stone. Belinda George-Peoples from the host choir leads the triumph rant.

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