Studio Musician Academy

Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is Mark Hill, Mark is at the top of the list for holding down the bottom end on recording sessions in Nashville. Clocking in for over 600 session dates a year, he’s well past the 10,000 hours mark of mastering his craft over the past 32 years in the industry.  Mark’s head turning tone and deep pocket has earned him five nominations for ACM Bass player of the year. He...

Send us Fan Mail Today's guest is Alex Wright! Alex has quickly become one of Nashville’s first call Keyboard players.  After graduating from Berkley College of Music and moving to Nashville in pursuit of a career on the business side of music, Alex found himself on a unique road that landed him on the stage and in the studio with artists like Florida Georgia Line, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urb...

Send us Fan Mail Today's guest is Pat McGrath. Pat is a first call acoustic, utility player who has lended his playing to countless hits for over 30 years. Starting his career gigging on the west coast, Pat felt called to the set out on a path to session playing in Nashville and never looked back. After landing in Nashville, Pat began building relationships at local jam nights and touring gig...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is Rachel Loy. Rachel is a first call bass player, producer, and songwriter. She has performed on stage with artists Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and many more.  In the studio she has played Bass on records for Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Brett Eldredge, and Charlie Worsham to name a few.  As a producer Rachel is one of two solo female pro...

Send us Fan Mail Today's guest is Sol Littlefield. Sol is a first call session guitar player, based in Nashville, TN. His playing can be heard on records from artists like Tim McGraw, Sam Hunt, and Kelsea Ballerini. He’s participated in a catalog of recordings which have been streamed nearly 10 billion times. Sol’s journey from recording his garage bands in small town England to solidifying h...

Send us Fan Mail Todays guest is Jacob Lowery! Jacob is member of the legendary Michael McDonalds touring band and has held down the low end in the studio and on stage with an all start list of diverse artists like CeCe Winans, Sara Barellis and Reba McEntire to name a few.  Jacob started his musical journey in his hometown church in Louisiana at the age of 5. Starting on drums, then transitioning...

Send us Fan Mail This week's guest is Justin Ostrander. Justin's career is a little engine that could, Goliath- slaying, summit of Everest mountain of inspiration. After leaving his career as a college math professor, Justin followed his lifelong passion for guitar playing to Nashville.  Without a back up plan and armed with years of performing, studying records, and "practicing for...

Send us Fan Mail Today's guest is Lucas Sader. Lucas is a musical director, show programmer, session guitar player, and producer. His masterful execution of his instrument to help serve the artist's creative vision, has earned him a Grammy nomination, and collaborations with artists such as John Legend, Will Smith, and Jennifer Lopez.  Lucas's emphasize on pre-production, and learni...

Send us Fan Mail Todays guest is Justin Schipper. Justin started his musical journey as a guitar player, and after moving to Nashville, found his path to becoming a leading session player through his unique approach to sounds and parts on the pedal steel. His multi-instrumentalist talents have landed him on the stage and in the studio with artists like Shania Twain, Florida Georgia Line, Billy Gib...

Send us Fan Mail Dave Cohen is an undisputed triple threat in the studio. As a keyboard player, songwriter, and producer, Dave has earned three ACM awards, two Music Row awards and has participated in over 100, #1 records. As a songwriter, his songs have been recorded by artists like Lady A, Joe Nichols, and Mckenzie Porter.  Dave earned his seat at the tiny table of studio giants, through is abil...

Send us Fan Mail This week's guest is Evan Hutchings. Evan is an A list studio drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is a 3 time ACM award nominee, two time Arkansas Drummer of the year winner, and has 10, #1 songs to his credit. As a producer and songwriter, he has had placements in shows like Grey's Anatomy, Impulse and Catfish.  In addition to his work on sessions, Evan has also maste...

Send us Fan Mail Jerry McPherson is a guitar strapped chameleon. He has spent decades lending his licks to a catalog of recording that have amassed more than 10 billion streams.  Jerry has mastered navigating between Pop, Country, Rock, Christian, and we've yet to find a genre he can't bring some magic to.  As a musician that found his voice by first studying the greats that came before...

Send us Fan Mail Todays guest is Danny Rader. Danny is prominent, multi-instrumentalist studio musician, songwriter, and producer. He is three time ACM award winner, the 2021 music director for the CMA awards, and his pickin' has been featured on over sixty, number 1 records! With a unique ability to straddle the line between side man and studio musician through his career, Danny has toured w...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the studio musician academy podcast. Todays guest is Rob McNelley. If a six string and a Swiss army knife had a baby, they’d call him Rob. While so many musicians have had to make a clear career choice between touring and studio work, Rob has managed to break the mold, and follow the opportunities that are most inspiring to him, regardless of category.  Rob has toured w...

Send us Fan Mail This weeks guest is David Dorn. David is a first call session keyboard player, producer, songwriter, and studio owner. He is a four time ACM award nominee and has played on countless Grammy award winning records. The songs that have been blessed with his gift have amassed over 4 billion streams. As a producer, he has landed many songs in film and TV as well.  In our experience wor...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the studio musician academy podcast! Today's guest is Miles Mcpherson. Miles is a top call studio Drummer, audio engineer by necessity, a macro enthusiast, and an all around crazy wonderful mother f$#%er. He is a 2 time ACM award winner, Modern Drummer award nominee, and has 19 #1 records in which he hit things on. He's participated in records that have been s...