Deconstructing Dad: The Music, Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott

His filmmaker son probes the professional and private lives of his fascinating father: bandleader, composer, inventor, and electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott.

Born Harry Warnow, You may not know his name but you know his music from Warner Bros. cartoons, and his electronic musical instruments paved the way for today's synthesizers and sequencers. Juilliard graduate, Visionary composer, bandleader, and inventor RAYMOND SCOTT was once among the unheralded pioneers of contemporary experimental music, a figure whose genius and influence have seeped almost subliminally into the mass cultural consciousness. But he's increasingly moving from subliminal to substantial as in the early years of the 21st century more and more people are learning about the work of this 20th century musical renaissance man.

Deconstructing Dad: The Music, Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott is a documentary exploration of the life and work of American maverick composer, bandleader, inventor, and electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott (1908-1994), presented from a unique perspective– the filmmaker is his only son.
Going beyond biographical documentary, it is also a personal quest to unravel the timeless fabric of love, connection and rejection that are a part of every parent child relationship, with the additional element of a famous father obsessed with his work, and further complicated by divorce and related scandal.

The Electronium, which he described as ”an instantaneous composition and performance machine,” was purchased by Berry Gordy for Motown, and Scott worked for Motown for several years as their Director of Electronic Music Research and Development.

Interviewees include his children and two of his wives, first wife Pearl (the filmmaker's mother), and third wife Mitzi. Sadly, his second wife and protege, the singer Dorothy Collins, died before production of this film–the fascinating story of their scandalous relationship is told through the recollections of others. Other interviewees include Academy Award winning composer John Williams; Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh; cutting edge music producer Hal Willner; Paul D. Miller, AKA DJ Spooky; Moog synthesizer co-inventor Herb Deutsch, Robert Moog as well as many others.

There are extra sequences on the DVD, totaling approx. 20 minutes of bonus footage, including:
• Two extra scenes featuring Mark Mothersbaugh, movie soundtrack composer and DEVO co-founder
• Turntablist/producer/author DJ SPOOKY, aka Paul D. Miller
• An exploration of the mysterious 1959 album THE UNEXPECTED by Raymond Scott & The Secret Seven, the all-star jazz legends supergroup whose identities remained confidential for decades
• Tom Rhea, Ph.D (Berklee College of Music) explains Scott’s early keyboard synthesizer invention, the Clavivox
• MOOG synthesizer co-inventor, Herb Deutsch, recalls Scott describing the Electronium

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