Scott Totten

{{short description|American musician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{notability|music|date=July 2017}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = 2019 The Beach Boys - by 2eight - DSC4883.jpg

| caption=Totten performing with The Beach Boys in 2019

| name = Scott Totten

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_place = Orange County, California{{Cite web|url=https://sitstrings.com/artists/Scott_Totten|title=SIT Strings – Hand Crafted Instrument Strings|website=sitstrings.com}}

| origin =

| birth_date =

| death_date =

| genre =

| occupation = Musician

| instrument = Vocals, guitar

| years_active = 1987–present

| label =

| associated_acts = The Beach Boys

| website =

}}

Scott Totten (born in Orange County, California) is an American musician, best known for his work as musical director, singer and guitarist in the Beach Boys touring band, which features original Beach Boy Mike Love and later addition Bruce Johnston.

Totten attended Berklee College of Music, eventually earning a Bachelor of Music degree. Later he was a Broadway and session guitarist.[http://gitboxculture.blogspot.com/2010/05/interview-scott-totten-of-beach-boys.html]{{self-published source|date=July 2017}} In the 1990s Totten played on albums and sessions by Grandmaster Flash, Angela Bofill, Sybill, Donna Summer and Exposé. He also played on Broadway shows and tours such as The Who's Tommy, Les Misérables, Rent and Mamma Mia!.

Totten began playing with the Beach Boys touring band on guitar in 2000. He moved to the position of musical director in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.beachboysbritain.org.uk/index.php/scott-totten/ |title=Scott Totten |website=www.beachboysbritain.org.uk |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816034053/http://www.beachboysbritain.org.uk/index.php/scott-totten/ |archive-date=16 August 2013 |url-status=dead}} In 2011, Totten was confirmed as performing alongside The Beach Boys on their 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour as music director and singer, also playing guitar, ukulele and bass.{{cite magazine|author=Patrick Doyle |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-mike-love-talks-beach-boys-50th-anniversary-tour-20111219 |title=Exclusive: Mike Love 'Looking Forward' to Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour | Music News |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=December 19, 2011 |accessdate=July 13, 2013}} Totten played on the band's subsequent studio album, That's Why God Made the Radio (2012). He also played lead guitar on "Goin' to the Beach" from the Made in California box set, and added vocals to the new single version of "Isn't it Time" from the same album.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} He also performed on Mike Love's solo albums Unleash the Love (2017) and Reason for the Season (2018).

In April 2023 Scott announced via a Facebook update that he had left the Beach Boys touring band after almost 23 years.{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2023 |title=Scott Totten on Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/677952773/posts/10160875690632774/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=www.facebook.com}}