Reggie Scanlan

Who is Reggie Scanlan?

Reggie Scanlan is a bass guitar player and photographer from New Orleans, Louisiana and a founding member of swamp rock band, The Radiators.

According to Matthew Haggman of radio station WWOZ in New Orleans, "In the early seventies Scanlan made enough of a name for himself as a bassist to record with James Booker at Sea Saint studios under the auspices of Allen Toussaint ... Booker, however, was both eccentric and unproductive. Toussaint, doing the session on spec, called it off and Booker lost the session tapes in a cab."

In 1974, Scanlan got an opportunity to jam with legendary New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair. In 1977, Scanlan was invited to join Fess's band, and he toured with Fess until the end of the year, when most of the band was replaced. During that time Scanlan and guitarist Dave Malone were in a band called Road Apple. In January 1978 Ed Volker invited both men to jam with Camile Baudoin and Frank Bua, Jr. who were members with him in a band called The Rhapsodizers. The jam lasted for about 5 hours and at the end of the session The Radiators were born. Reggie's photography is the cover art for two of the Radiators albums, New Dark Ages and Bucket of Fish.