Brent Mason

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Brent Mason (born July 13, 1959^[1]) is an American session guitarist and occasional songwriter. He is known primarily for his work in the field of country music.^[2] In addition to releasing two instrumental studio albums,^[2] he holds several credits as a songwriter. He is a 12 time winner of the Academy of Country Music Guitarist of the Year Award and a two time winner of the CMA Award Musician of the Year.

Biography

Brent Mason was born on July 13, 1959, in Van Wert, Ohio. At five years old, he taught himself to play guitar by ear.^[2] He moved to Nashville, Tennessee after graduating from high school, in order to pursue a career in country music. Eventually, he was discovered by country guitarist Chet Atkins, who invited him to play on his Stay Tuned album. From there, Mason went on to play on several other artists' albums, including those of George Strait, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, David Gates, and Neil Diamond.^[1] Mason also co-wrote singles for Clinton Gregory ("Play, Ruby, Play") and McBride & the Ride ("Hurry Sundown").

Mason signed to Mercury Records in 1997, releasing an instrumental album entitled Hot Wired that year. This was his only major-label album. He made a decision to break his contract with Mercury records soon after to remain in Nashville and work in the recording studio as an A-List session guitarist rather than spend most of his time on the road touring and away from his family. He and his brother Randy released a second album, entitled Smokin' Section, in 2006.

Other contributions

In addition to his contributions to country music, Mason has played on commercials for a large roster of companies, including Budweiser, Miller Brewing, Betty Crocker, and Sears.^{[citation needed]}

He has received twelve Academy of Country Music Guitarist of the Year Awards and two CMA Musician of the Year Awards, being nominated for both of those awards every year to date since 1991.^{[citation needed]} At the 51st Grammy Awards, he and several other guitarists won the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental, for the track "Cluster Pluck" from Brad Paisley's mostly-instrumental album Play.^[3]

Gear

This section requires expansion.

In 2003 Gibson Guitar Corporation released a Valley Arts signature guitar designed to be a replica of Mason's 1968 Fender Telecaster.^[4]

References

External links

• Official website
• Brent Mason at MySpace