Tommy Scott Young
Mr. Tommy Scott Young
Storyteller, poet, playwright, author, producer, teacher and sculptor are a few of the descriptions of Tommy Scott Young. The Blair, South Carolina native, was the son of Nancy Lee Thompson Young and John Robert Rice Young.
Tommy Scott gave his life to Christ and joined the Gethsemane Baptist Church at an early age. While living in Los Angeles, CA, he attended the Holman Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir. After returning to South Carolina, he was instrumental in establishing Christ Unity Church of Columbia.
Tommy Scott attended Gethsemane Elementary School, McCrorey Liston High School and St. Emma Military Academy in Virginia, after which he served in the United States Air Force. He attended Benedict College for two years, then transferred to California State University at Los Angeles where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art and Theater. He went on to pursue graduate work in sculpturing.
While in Los Angeles, he studied with many actors, including Kathleen Freeman and Yaphet Koto. He also worked with the Watts Writers Workshop, where he trained Roger Mosely. He wrote and produced a play entitled Angela about the life of Angela Davis. He collaborated with Angela Davis herself, Jane Fonda and Quincy Jones on this project. He worked with Jester Hairston, one of the stars on the television show, Amen, to hone his piano skills. He utilized his skill as a performer of classical, traditional and modern storytelling throughout the nation, including being an artist-in-residence, for the arts councils and commissions in North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. He taught at the University of Southern California, UCLA and Benedict College. Tommy Scott was a guest of Her Majesty's Eastern Arts Council in 1988, during which time he completed a tour of England, performing at many hamlets, towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom.
Tommy Scott resided in New York City for several years, where he studied at The New School's College of Performing Arts. While in New York, he became a storyteller-in-residence at the Lincoln Center Institute, where his performances and teachings reached hundreds of individuals.
He is most known in South Carolina as the founder and director of the Kitani Foundation, which from 1977-1983, was a leader in bringing nationally acclaimed performing artists to South Carolina. The Kitani Foundation's purpose was to enable school children in South Carolina to see nationally known artists and to promote outstanding performing artists in the state. As a result, Tommy Scott brought more than 25 national performing artists and groups to South Carolina including: Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, The Feld Ballet, A Chorus Line, The Jung Su Song and Dance Troupe of China, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The Dance Theatre of Harlem. The performances reached tens of thousands of students and the general public as well. Kitani's annual children's poster contest and calendar encouraged drawing and poetry by our young people.
The Kitani Foundation founded Mayfest in Columbia and the Artists-in-Schools Program for Richland County School District I. The Kitani Foundation's bringing of national performing artists to the state pre-dated the Koger Center for the Performing Arts. In 1979, the Kitani Foundation was awarded the South Carolina Arts Commission's prestigious Elizabeth O'Neil Verner Award for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina.
Books written by this gifted author include Tommy Scott Young Spins Magical Tales and Black Blues and Shiny Songs (poetry).
Tommy Scott was extremely proud of his son, Lee Thompson Young, who also combined the dual profession of storytelling and theater. Lee had a starring role as Jett Jackson on the Disney Channel's show, The Famous Jett Jackson. He also had starring roles in Friday Night Lights, Akeelah and the Bee and Rizzoli and Isles. Tommy Scott believed that by sharing his talents, he enriched the lives of others.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Nancy Lee Thompson Young, his father, John Robert (Rice) Young and his son, Lee Thompson Young.
Tommy Scott is survived by his sister, Felicia Yvonne Young Trower; his niece, Timia Kitani Trower; his grandnephew, Shelton Gabriel Whittaker and his grandniece, Rachael Gabrielle Whittaker. Many cousins and friends will also miss him dearly.
Tommy Scott gave his life to Christ and joined the Gethsemane Baptist Church at an early age. While living in Los Angeles, CA, he attended the Holman Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir. After returning to South Carolina, he was instrumental in establishing Christ Unity Church of Columbia.
Tommy Scott attended Gethsemane Elementary School, McCrorey Liston High School and St. Emma Military Academy in Virginia, after which he served in the United States Air Force. He attended Benedict College for two years, then transferred to California State University at Los Angeles where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art and Theater. He went on to pursue graduate work in sculpturing.
While in Los Angeles, he studied with many actors, including Kathleen Freeman and Yaphet Koto. He also worked with the Watts Writers Workshop, where he trained Roger Mosely. He wrote and produced a play entitled Angela about the life of Angela Davis. He collaborated with Angela Davis herself, Jane Fonda and Quincy Jones on this project. He worked with Jester Hairston, one of the stars on the television show, Amen, to hone his piano skills. He utilized his skill as a performer of classical, traditional and modern storytelling throughout the nation, including being an artist-in-residence, for the arts councils and commissions in North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. He taught at the University of Southern California, UCLA and Benedict College. Tommy Scott was a guest of Her Majesty's Eastern Arts Council in 1988, during which time he completed a tour of England, performing at many hamlets, towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom.
Tommy Scott resided in New York City for several years, where he studied at The New School's College of Performing Arts. While in New York, he became a storyteller-in-residence at the Lincoln Center Institute, where his performances and teachings reached hundreds of individuals.
He is most known in South Carolina as the founder and director of the Kitani Foundation, which from 1977-1983, was a leader in bringing nationally acclaimed performing artists to South Carolina. The Kitani Foundation's purpose was to enable school children in South Carolina to see nationally known artists and to promote outstanding performing artists in the state. As a result, Tommy Scott brought more than 25 national performing artists and groups to South Carolina including: Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, The Feld Ballet, A Chorus Line, The Jung Su Song and Dance Troupe of China, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The Dance Theatre of Harlem. The performances reached tens of thousands of students and the general public as well. Kitani's annual children's poster contest and calendar encouraged drawing and poetry by our young people.
The Kitani Foundation founded Mayfest in Columbia and the Artists-in-Schools Program for Richland County School District I. The Kitani Foundation's bringing of national performing artists to the state pre-dated the Koger Center for the Performing Arts. In 1979, the Kitani Foundation was awarded the South Carolina Arts Commission's prestigious Elizabeth O'Neil Verner Award for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina.
Books written by this gifted author include Tommy Scott Young Spins Magical Tales and Black Blues and Shiny Songs (poetry).
Tommy Scott was extremely proud of his son, Lee Thompson Young, who also combined the dual profession of storytelling and theater. Lee had a starring role as Jett Jackson on the Disney Channel's show, The Famous Jett Jackson. He also had starring roles in Friday Night Lights, Akeelah and the Bee and Rizzoli and Isles. Tommy Scott believed that by sharing his talents, he enriched the lives of others.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Nancy Lee Thompson Young, his father, John Robert (Rice) Young and his son, Lee Thompson Young.
Tommy Scott is survived by his sister, Felicia Yvonne Young Trower; his niece, Timia Kitani Trower; his grandnephew, Shelton Gabriel Whittaker and his grandniece, Rachael Gabrielle Whittaker. Many cousins and friends will also miss him dearly.
