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Today’s guest is Dann Huff. In the recording industry, Dann is an absolute giant. (pun intended) His work as a session guitar player, artist, and Producer has shaped the sound of popular music from LA to Nashville, across a range of genres, for over 40 years. 

I wouldn’t know where to start with listing the legendary artists and timeless hits that he has masterfully crafted. How Dann really tops the charts is his insatiable passion for chasing the nuances of arrangement, performance and production to discover where the magic lives in a song. 

Dann is leader who empowers musicians in the studio by creating an environment prioritized on authenticity, humility, and a thirst for growth through collaboration.

In this episode Dann shares the guiding principles that helped him navigate the relentless waves of a career as a hitmaker. He reveals the keys to building, maintaining, and reimagining success in the recording industry. And we explore the inspiration and creative process behind his solo record, When Words Aren’t Enough.

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In todays episode we are discussing the craft of writing Nashville number charts. 

Our guests are David Dorn and Leland Grant.

David is a first call Nashville session player, producer, and studio owner. He’s also a Studio Musician academy co founder and mentor who created an incredible training program on chart writing which is available at studiomuscianacademy.com

Leland Grant is a Producer, Songwriter, studio owner and cofounder of a ground breaking app called Nashville Numbers which is revolutionizing the way charts are written, archived and shared amongst players for sessions and live gigs.

In this episode, we explore the intriguing history of how Nashville number charts came to be, dive deep into the important nuances of chart writing, and chart a song live using the traditional written method alongside the digital version on the Nashville Numbers app.

If you’re new to Nashville charting or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with topics that will give you fresh insights on ensuring smooth sessions with charts that your fellow players will love ya for. 

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Todays guest is Jerry Roe. Jerry is an ACM award winning, first call Nashville session drummer/bassist, and one half of the heavy duo, Friendship Commanders.

Jerry’s career is a shining example of how to remain unapologetically authentic to one’s creative and personal identity while crafting a top tier career in the music business. 

Jerry has held down the pocket for artists like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Dolly Parton, Post Malone, The Legendary Shackshakers, Secondhand Serenade, and a continued list of marquee acts that would take us the rest of the length of this podcast to recall. More importantly, Jerry has a one of a kind sense of humor, and an unmovable passion for art in all of it’s forms.

In this hilariously insightful episode, hosted by fellow drummer Miles McPherson, Jerry recalls his journey to becoming one of Nashville’s most in demand session drummers, shares the “secret” contents of his session gig bag, discusses the importance of retaining an authentic identity, and tells us why he believes that AI is a bubble that will burst with catastrophic impact.

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Today’s guest is Jimmy Wallace!

Hailing from Shreveport Louisiana, Jimmy is a Nashville based Keyboardist who has checked all the boxes of a fulfilled career in serving the song. Jimmy has toured with artists like The Wallflowers, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Joe Walsh, and Jewel. He’s served in the studio alongside acts such as Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, and Bonnie Bishop. Balancing a steady career between live gigs and studio work is an insurmountable feat for most musicians. However, Jimmy has managed to find success in a discerning approach to taking gigs that fill his pockets with both soul dollars and legal tender.

While experimenting with college life, Jimmy met a young Kenny Wayne Shepard during a dive bar blues jam in Shreveport. As Kenny’s career bloomed, Jimmy recognized the opportunity to learn on the job as opposed to a college classroom, and left college to hit the road with Kenny on an international tour with The Eagles. In the following decades, Jimmy has kept his heels dug in firmly below his instrument, while allowing his boots to keep walking in the direction that he sees creative fulfillment.

Jimmy’s career path has had several course corrections that have left a valuable trail of insight on developing and sustaining a fulfilled career in the recording industry. In this conversation, we hear an incredible perspective on attracting the gigs you want through carefully selecting the gigs you need. We explore the role of traditional keyboard instruments in modern production, and hear incredible stories of chance connections that led to massive opportunity.

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Today’s guest is Terence F. Clark. Terence is a Grammy Nominated drummer, producer, composer and artist. Following the motto of “There’s not a right way, but there is a wrong way,” Terence has combined his technical skill with an artist-first mindset that has helped him master the art of serving the song. 

Terence has held down the pocket in the studio for artists like Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow, Lauren Daigle, Toby Mac, and Joss Stone. He is currently in the touring band for Keith Urban, and a top call for the drum chair in the studio scenes of Nashville, Memphis, and abroad!

In this episode, we track Terence’s journey from a Memphis church to sitting along side his musical heroes in the studio and on the stage. We unpack powerful philosophies on serving the song, invaluable tips for executing sessions, and inspiring stories that fuel the creative spirit.

Terence has an infectious passion for his craft and possess a confidence, rooted in humility, which has served him well in earning the trust and admiration of legendary producers, artists, and fellow musicians.

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Today’s guest is B James Lowry! B James is a Nashville based guitarist, composer, and producer. He’s sat in the coveted guitar chair on recordings for artists like Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Pretty Lights, Jewel, and even the Chipmunks! 

After getting his start as a touring side-man with some of the industry’s biggest acts, B. James made a risky leap in burning his ships and transitioning into the session scene full time. Trading a six figure career to become a $50 per track demo player might sound insane, but his all in bet eventually earned him a seat at the table amongst Nashville’s most sought after session players.

In this episode, B James shares stories from his journey, as we unpack his career path, creative approaches, and the equivalent of a masters in psychology which is unofficially required to successfully navigate the red ocean of the recording industry.

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Today’s guest is Kent Wells. A guitar player, producer, studio owner, and songwriter, Kent’s road case bumper sticker is “Enjoy the climb.” Over a 30+ year, he has summited the peaks of every aspect of the recording industry. 

Kent began his ascent after his available notice on the musicians union bulletin board caught the eye of Keith Whitley’s bandleader. After standing behind the spotlight of one of Nashville’s most exciting new acts at the time, he then went on to tour with legends like The Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers, Reba, and Dolly Parton.

Eventually, the thrill of playing some of the biggest stages in the industry began to dim. Kent had discovered a new passion for the challenging and competitive world of session playing, and set out on a new journey in the recording industry. While steadily climbing the ranks of the session guitar chair, he began producing demos and eventually opened a studio on Nashville’s music row. After an unexpected call from Dolly Parton placed him in the producer chair along side one of country musics biggest stars, his ascent reached new heights and has continued on over the decades.

In this episode Kent shares some incredible stories that highlight the challenges of navigating the journey, what a producer looks for in players, and how to survive the dream of making a living making records. 

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Todays guest is Mike Brignardello. Mike has been holding down the groove as a first call session Bass player for over 40 years. Mike’s career journey started in his soulful hometown of Memphis. He then hit the road with Christian acts, DeGarmo & Key and Amy Grant, before becoming a founding member of the rock band Giant, and eventually planting his bass in Nashville’s country music session scene. 

We could list all of the artists that Mike has served over the years, but it would be easier to say that if  an act recorded in Nashville in the past four decades, it’s a fairly safe bet that there’s a Briggs baseline on at least one of their records. A self described, “street player” Mike’s mastery of his instrument truly came from an on the job education. 

The challenges of navigating a life long career at the highest level of the recording industry has worn out the most optimistic of spirits, but Mike’s unconditional love of the music and the process of creating it, has only grown stronger over time. So how does one survive the dream for this long? You’re about to find out!

In this episode, Mike shares stories from his road trip of a career, the lessons learned in a signed band, the secret to finding inspiration at every turn, and so much more!

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If you’ve ever seen or heard a guitar picking unicorn, you were probably witnessing the work of Bryan Sutton. While our brief introduction could barely scratch the surface of covering the immense accomplishments of one of the most sought after acoustic guitar players in the recording industry, we’ll do our best.

Bryan is a Grammy award winner and nine-time international Bluegrass music association guitar player of the year. Over the past 30 years Bryan has shared the stage and studio floor with the highest echelon of artists across the Country, Bluegrass, and Americana genres. Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Eric Church, The Dixie Chicks, and Carrie Underwood are just a brief sampling of the icons who have called on Bryan’s gift.

Bryan’s career journey is the epitome of chasing passion and allowing the success to follow. In an industry that often draws a clear distinction between touring musicians and session players, Bryan has intentionally designed a career that allows him to scratch the itch of all of his creative aspirations. Beyond his hired gun role, Bryan has also had incredible success as a band leader, record producer, mentor, and educator.

In this episode, we explore the flight plan that landed Bryan on the coveted island of first call guitar players. We cover the mindset, technical skillset, and theoretical approaches, which Bryan has perfected along his journey. 

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Today’s guest is Kris Donegan. If there’s a model example for developing your own preverbal box to fit into, Kris’ career is the blueprint. His unique approach to the session guitar chair has landed him on records with artists ranging from Darius Rucker, Shania Twain, and Kane Brown to Colbie Caillat, Third Eye Blind, and Michael W. Smith. He is an ACM guitar player of the year nominee, with numerous #1’s and Grammy winning recordings on his deep resume of studio sessions.

Kris has navigated the delicate balance of defining a creative identity that sets him apart from the crowd, while allowing that identity to be free from pre-conceptions with flexibility to bend and fit into each unique session. Through a career-long evolution, Kris has expertly navigated the nuances of what it takes to maintain success, and sanity, at the highest levels of the recording industry.

In this episode, we explore Kris’ career journey, the challenges along the way, and the lessons learned in the process. From discovering how to stand out while still fitting in, what to learn from getting replaced on a record, and how gear can be a rocket or an anchor, this episode is packed with invaluable lessons and unbelievable stories!

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