Al Perkins

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Al Perkins (Born January 18, 1944) is a Texas-born American guitarist. The Gibson guitar company called Perkins "the world's most influential Dobro player", and even began producing an "Al Perkins Signature" Dobro in 2001 - designed and autographed by Perkins.

After some time in the US Army, Perkins moved to California where he began playing with the band Shiloh. He went on to record and tour with the Flying Burrito Brothers, Richie Furay, Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Stills, Leonard Cohen, Gram Parsons, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Daniel Amos, The Rolling Stones, Joe Walsh, Michael Nesmith, Randy Newman, James Taylor, Debby Boone, Tori Amos, The Eagles, Bethlehem, and McGuinn and Hillman. In 1971, Perkins became a member of Steven Stills band, Manassas. In 1984 and 1985, Al can be heard playing steel guitar on contemporary Christian singer Don Francisco's "Holiness" and "One Heart at a Time" albums.

Perkins began producing records in the mid 1970s.

In the 1980s, Perkins joined Chris Hillman in the Desert Rose Band. Perkins started touring with Dolly Parton in 1986. Also that year, Perkins played Dobro on Bob Dylan's Knocked Out Loaded. In 1988, Perkins moved to Nashville, and the following year, he joined Emmylou Harris' new Grammy Award winning group, The Nash Ramblers, with whom he released the album Snapshots.

By the mid 1990s, Perkins began to work almost exclusively as a record producer and session guitarist, recording with artists like Tori Amos (From the Choirgirl Hotel), Owen Temple, Garth Brooks (Sevens), Wynonna Judd, Buddy Miller, and Cher.

In 2003, Perkins joined forces with Terry Talbot and other original members: Bruce “Creeper” Kurnow on keyboard and harmonica and original bassist Tim Ayres to resurrect the legendary country rock band Mason Proffit. Al's electric and acoustic guitar, steel guitar, banjo, lap slide guitar, Dobro and vocal range bring an exciting dimension to this already exciting and legendary band.

Perkins has recently teamed up with Brady Blade and Chris Donohue to form Big Dog 3 and have released the self titled album in July 2009.

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