I was born on September 11, 1984 near the Mexican border in McAllen, TX. I know it seems like a strange place to pick up Bluegrass, but God has his way of working things out! My family began their work to Mexico as missionaries
four years before I was born. I spent all of my childhood until I was
sixteen working with Hispanics and learning their language and customs.
My family originally hails from the mountain of East Tennessee. We would frequently make visits home and spend time with my grandparents and family. That is where bluegrass became a huge influence in my life. My dad, James Munsey, gave me my first guitar when I was seven. When I was eleven dad started learning the banjo and I was given my first mandolin. Because of where we lived there was no one to instruct me, but hours in front of the stereo gave me plenty of guidance. My two sisters and mother soon followed suit and the Munsey family bluegrass gospel band began. The family band was a useful tool to our ministry in Mexico. We spent many years promoting and raising funds for the mission work through our music and testimony.
In January of 2001, my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor. God called him home almost one month later on February 4, 2001. Although, I did not understand at the moment why things happened that way, I knew somehow that God had a perfect plan. My mother, sisters, and I moved back to East Tennessee to be near family. This opened up many doors for me to expand my skill and knowledge of bluegrass. I spent the next few years playing and starting local bluegrass bands.
One of the important things my mom, Mitzi, stressed was that of getting an education, and on December 17, 2006 I graduated from Tusculum College with a Bachelor's in Organizational Management. This gave me the knowledge I needed to find ways of making a living doing what I love best, playing bluegrass music. I played most of the years of '06 and '07 in and around the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas of Tennessee. I currently work for Cumulus Broadcasting on music row in Nashville, TN.
I have always had a great respect for Doyle Lawson and the many pickers he has played with over the years. When Joe Dean called me about a position with Barry Scott and Second Wind, I was honored to have the opportunity to play with such high caliber of musicians and singers. I am excited about Barry Scott and Second Wind and what all God has in store for us.
I'm also proud to announce that I have asked my wonderful girlfriend Juliana to marry me! Of course, she said yes... The date is set for the 2nd of August, 2008.
Contact Matt by writing: Matt@barryscottonline.com