James Bryan Sutton
Biography
Early career
Sutton's grandfather and father were regionally recognized fiddlers, and Sutton grew up playing in the family band, the Pisgah Pickers. In 1991, he played guitar for Karen Peck and New River, a gospel group. In 1993, he moved to
Nashville.
Ricky Skaggs
Sutton first came to prominence in 1997 as lead guitarist in
Ricky Skaggs' band
Kentucky Thunder when Skaggs returned to
bluegrass music. Sutton eventually left the band to focus on session work.
Hot Rize
Bryan was asked to join the bluegrass quartet
Hot Rize in 2002. He has toured and recorded with them ever since, and has only missed one show since they re-formed.
Session work and touring
In addition to Skaggs and Hot Rize, Sutton has toured with the
Dixie Chicks, Jerry Douglas,
Sam Bush, Béla Fleck,
Hot Rize,
Chris Thile,
Tony Rice and others.
In 2007-08, Sutton toured with Chris Thile & The How to Grow a Band, a project which later turned into the Punch Brothers.
Bryan is one of the most in-demand session players in Nashville, and recently produced a record for Della Mae and the Cash Cabin. His style is a unique blend of staccato mixed with powerful chromatic and melodic movements which is integrated into the more common bluegrass, blues and folk leads that are common to the genre.
Other projects
In June, 2011 he launched the
Online Bluegrass Guitar School with Bryan Sutton, as part of the
ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass.
In 2013, Sutton recorded the album Ready for the Times with T. Michael Coleman and David Holt. They recorded the album as a tribute to Doc Watson.
Recordings
For
Almost Live, Sutton was joined by 17 guest musicians, including Béla Fleck (banjo),
Jerry Douglas (resonator guitar),
Russ Barenberg (guitar), Chris Thile (mandolin), and
Stuart Duncan (fiddle).
Sutton's album Into My Own featured guests Bill Frisell (guitar), Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), and Noam Pikelny (banjo).
On 2016's The More I Learn, Sutton continued to develop and showcase his singing and songwriting skills. The album prominently features Bryan Sutton Band members Casey Campbell (mandolin), Mike Barnett (fiddle), and Sam Grisman (bass).
Awards
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2000 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2003 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2004 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2005 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2006 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2007 - Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for Whiskey Before Breakfast w/ Doc Watson. The song was recorded using 3 vintage Neumann microphones and a laptop in a Colorado hotel room by Engineer Phil Harris.
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2011 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2013 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2014 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2014 - Into My Own was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Bluegrass Album category
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2015 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
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2016 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
Gear
Bryan supports
Bourgeois Guitars and performs regularly with his own signature model, a
Bourgeois Bryan Sutton Limited Edition. He also uses a Bourgeois "
Country Boy Deluxe " model dreadnought, and a Bourgeois "
Banjo Killer " slope-shouldered dreadnought, which is another model directly inspired by Bryan. He also regularly performs with a 1940 Martin D-28.
Discography
External links
