Scott Mateer
Scott Mateer (1960–2006) was a songwriter and radio disc jockey in the Jackson, Mississippi area. Mateer was born at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, to parents Clara Mae and Roger Mateer on October 23, 1960. Mateer was the co-writer of "Boogie Box" for Fern Kinney, Dear Me, the first major hit for country star Lorrie Morgan. Scott also contributed spoken word vocals as the "Father William" on Operation: Mindcrime by the band Queensrÿche.
Scott later worked for several Mississippi radio stations, including WZZQ FM, 94 TYX, and Miss 103 and co-founded Solarfire Records. Mateer suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure and died suddenly at the age of 46 in Flowood, Mississippi.
Early Life and Career
Born Roger "Scott" Mateer on October 23, 1960 to Clara Mae and Roger Mateer of Jackson, Mississippi, he quickly became quite the talent. His affluent parents indulged his every musical whim, including the piano, the guitar, the bass, and the organ.
By his teens, Scott could play eight instruments at varying degrees. He attended the Jackson Preparatory School, and transferred during his senior year at Woodland Hills Academy before entering Hinds Community College.
At 16, Mateer had his first job as a weekend part-timer at WZZQ-FM in Jackson. He returned to the legendary ZZQ/102 in late 1980-early 1981 as a character on the "Kevin in the Morning" show with Kevin Vandenbroek. Vandenbroek won the Mississippi Broadcasters Association award for Best Program or Series with the help of Mateer.
Within a few years, he had a prime-time morning radio show at the Jackson pop station WTYX FM. His quick wit with first co-host, the oddly successful Jim Chick, and Scott's ability to create memorable characters, garnered him top ratings in the Jackson, MS, FM radio market.
"Scotty" enjoyed a certain success when Bill Ellison came on board toward the end. Bill remains alive as a salesperson, semi-sized wheel, musician, EduTV-fellow and general Bon Vivant, for what it's worth.
Mateer frequently traveled to Nashville in order to co-write with his mentor, the late Carson Whitsett, a studio veteran of Malaco Records in Jackson, Ms. During the early 1980s, the two had their first hit in Europe. Called "Boogie Box", it was recorded by superstar, Fern Kinney. This inspired Mateer to vie for a record deal of his own. That dream never materialized. Nonetheless, he kept writing with Whitsett and a few others. By this time he was married to his first wife, Lisa Williams, with whom he had one child, daughter Carlin.
"Dear Me"
In the mid 80's Scott and Carson asked Grand Ole Opry backup singer,Lorrie Morgan, to record some of their demos. Morgan had originally been signed to a record deal in 1979 but the arrangement advanced only limited success and her career was floundering. A couple of years later, Morgan married country singer Keith Whitley, and was signed to RCA at which point she recorded the album "Leave the Light On", which included the song, "Dear Me" by Mateer and the late Carson Whitsett. It was doing well, climbing the charts of Billboard Magazine. Then, when her star husband, Keith Whitley, died of alcohol poisoning, the lyrics to Morgan's song suddenly took a new meaning. The lyrics perfectly fit this "event" that was happening in Lorrie's life. His death inadvertently changed Morgan's musical career. It became her first top ten single off the album.
Later life
In radio, he worked for one of the Capital cities popular radio station, "Miss 103."
He proposed to the Miss Shari Schneider (see Shari Schneider) in 1994. Two years later they wed.
Because of professional differences, Scott left radio to partner with his wife. Around the turn of the century he joined David McCoy to write songs for a music catalog. He also composed "Sweet Pilgrim" with Shari. His dedicated wife continues to pursue the performance and publication of their collaborative work.
In 2005, Mateer was involved in an auto accident in Alabama while traveling to Nashville. A year later, on December 17, 2006, Scott's lifeless body was discovered by Shari. He was 46.
Scott Mateer is buried at Lakewood Memorial Cemetery. On his marker it reads, "May his music live forever."