Bryan Sutton

Born near Asheville, North Carolina, in 1973, guitarist Bryan Sutton picked up the guitar at the age of eight and immersed himself in rock and jazz playing, but the rhythms and melodies of bluegrass pickin' held his attention the strongest. After high school, Sutton toured for two years backing gospel artist Karen Peck before joining the contemporary country/gospel band Mid South. Landing in Nashville, he found plenty of studio work playing not only guitar, but fiddle, mandolin, and banjo as well, which led to a meeting with Ricky Skaggs and a subsequent spot on Kentucky Thunder's roster. His years with Skaggs kept the rising star busy, but he still found time to work with Aubrey Haynie, Jerry Douglas, Don Rigsby, Bobby Hicks, and Hayseed. Sutton parted ways with Kentucky Thunder in early 1999 and found session work with Rhonda Vincent, the Dixie Chicks, and Dolly Parton, and was honored by the International Bluegrass Music Association as 2000's Guitar Player of the Year. Acoustic label Sugar Hill Records was more than happy to release his solo debut, 2000's Ready to Go (featuring guest appearances by collaborators Douglas, Skaggs, and Parton), and its 2003 follow-up, the more subdued and appropriately named Bluegrass Guitar. Not Too Far from the Tree, also on Sugar Hill, appeared in 2006. Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, and Jerry Douglas were just some of the guests on his 2009 release, Almost Live. Five years later he returned with the studio set Into My Own, which was quickly followed by The More I Learn in 2016. ~ Zac Johnson