Scott dropped out in the late 60's. In 1970 he moved to Joshua Tree, a California desert town near Palm Springs, where he was frequently spotted wandering around barefoot talking to cactus plants and Joshua trees. In 1973 he went to Virginia Beach, VA, where he lived for 10 years.

In 1986, original Papa's Denny Doherty and John Phillips, with Mackenzie Phillips (John Phillips' daughter) and Spanky McFarlane (ex Spanky and Our Gang) as female vocalists took a new version of the group onto the nostalgia circuit. Later, when Denny left the group, Scott joined John Phillips as the second Papa. However, when John left due to ill health, Denny returned and Scott took the role vacated by John Phillips.

In 1988 Scott co-wrote the Beach Boys hit Kokomo with former Papa, John Phillips, Beach Boy Mike Love and the late Terry Melcher, long time producer of the Beach Boys."

Scott spent much of the 1990's touring with the Mamas and Papas.  Eventually, with no original members left, the group disbanded.  A great pity that the wonderful music of John Phillips would no longer be heard on stage.

In the 21st Century Scott still performs on occasions.  In recent years he has performed in Germany and in 2003 performed on a PBS Folk special. During March 2005, PBS broadcast a concert called "My Generation -- the 60's Experience." In the show Scott sings San Francisco. At the end of the program Scott sings a song that is unannounced.  It's called We've Been Asking Questions and is one of the last songs written by John Phillips before his death in 2001.