Richard Scott

Quick Facts

Summary

Richard Scott is a British songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Stoke-on-Trent best known for his long-term collaboration with Robbie Williams. A key member of the songwriting trio with Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer, he has co-written and produced material across albums including Rudebox, Reality Killed the Video Star and The Christmas Present.

Biography

Early life and musical background

Rich Scott grew up in Stoke-on-Trent in a musically rich environment. From an early age, he developed a strong interest in sound, arrangement and performance, drawing inspiration from American soul, funk and British pop.

He is self-taught as a musician, developing his skills through listening, experimentation and hands-on studio work rather than formal training. Over time, he became a multi-instrumentalist with a particular strength in harmony, structure and production.

Early bands and studio work

As a teenager, Scott played in a funk band with drummer Scott Ralph. Although the band later disbanded, the two maintained a creative relationship that would resurface years later in professional songwriting and production projects.

During his early career, Scott worked as a session musician, songwriter and studio operator, gradually building experience across recording environments and developing a reputation for musical versatility.

Connection with Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer

Scott became closely connected to Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer through the Stoke-on-Trent music scene. While Andrews and Spencer were already active in DJ culture, remixing and dance music production, Scott brought a complementary background rooted in songwriting, instrumentation and studio craft.

The three began collaborating informally, sharing demos, ideas and studio time, and gradually developed a shared creative language.

Connection with Robbie Williams

Rich Scott’s relationship with Robbie Williams developed through this creative circle. Williams was familiar with Scott through local performances and early collaborations involving Andrews and Spencer.

As Williams explored new directions following his early solo success, Scott became increasingly involved in writing and developing material, contributing to both studio sessions and experimental projects.

Songwriting with Robbie Williams

Scott became fully involved in songwriting with Williams during the mid-2000s. Alongside Andrews and Spencer, he co-wrote and developed a substantial body of work that expanded Williams’ sound beyond mainstream pop.

His contributions are particularly associated with albums such as Rudebox and Reality Killed the Video Star, which incorporated electronic, hip hop and genre-blending elements.

Within sessions, Scott often focused on melodic development, harmonic structure and arrangement, helping refine ideas into complete songs.

Production and studio work

In addition to songwriting, Scott has played a significant role as a producer. He has run his own studio operations, later formalised as Dead Good Productions, and has been responsible for shaping the final sound of numerous recordings.

His production work frequently involved developing demos into finished tracks, balancing experimentation with musical clarity.

Several songs associated with Scott appear on Williams’ Under the Radar releases, where creative freedom allowed for more exploratory production approaches.

Orchestral, swing and later projects

Scott has been closely involved in Williams’ swing and orchestral material, drawing on a deep appreciation for classic arrangements and vocal performance. His work blends traditional forms with contemporary songwriting techniques.

This strand of his career is evident in projects such as The Christmas Present, where Scott co-wrote and produced multiple tracks that combined festive themes with modern pop sensibilities.

Credits & Contributions (13)