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With
more than twenty years of experience in virtually every
musical genre, Sean O'Bryan Smith is one of the most celebrated
and highly sought-after bass players in the music industry.
Sean's virtuoso bass technique and high-energy stage presence,
combined with his ability to adapt to all types of music,
has landed Sean in an amazing variety of musical situations.
Born
in Chattanooga, TN, Sean started playing professionally
at the young age of 15. He credits his mother, blues and
jazz singer Bebe Hannon, as his biggest musical influence.
Growing up in a musical household played an important
role in Sean's musical advancement, as he was introduced
to everything from Ray Charles to Beethoven.
Sean
moved to Seattle in 1990 to pursue a professional music
career on the West Coast. While working with players of
the bustling "Seattle" sound, he still had an
opportunity to get involved in the local blues and jazz
scenes. Sean also spent a large part of his time as a
teacher and doing commercial session work.
Returning
to Tennessee a few years later, jumped right back into
the Southeast music scene. He formed his first original
project, the jazz fusion group Ivory Punch, with whom
he toured extensively. Sean also found himself in high
demand as a sideman and session bassist with various local
and national acts. This demand drew Sean to Nashville
in 1999.
Upon
his arrival in Nashville, Sean established himself as
a session bassist working to develop aspiring artists.
He has recorded and performed with many local favorites
and in 2001, Sean began working in conjunction with Curb
Records as a touring bassist with country artist Rodney
Atkins and jazz vocalist Anna Wilson. Since then, Sean
has performed with a list of Major and Independent label
recording artists as diverse as his musical tastes including
country music legend Billy Ray Cyrus, pop singer/songwriter
Nissi, contemporary Christian superstar Rebecca St. James,
and country music chart toppers Cyndi Thomson, Jimmy Wayne,
Buddy Jewell, and Robin English, as well as opening up
for a large list of major label artists all over the United
States.
With
the internationally-acclaimed release of his first solo
album, Tapestry, in 2007, Sean quickly established himself
as a solo artist, band leader and composer. The CD is
a highly ambitious offering of instrumental music featuring
some of the top sidemen and players in the industry including
legendary guitar player Jeff "Skunk" Baxter,
Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Sarah McLachlan), Ken Rarick
(Cher, Madonna), Rich Eckhardt (Toby Keith), Mel Watts
(Wilson Pickett, Garth Brooks), Johnny Barranco (Barry
Manilow), Monty Powell (Keith Urban, Rascall Flatts) and
Teddy Andreadis (Alice Cooper, Guns 'n Roses). Sean fills
all of the bass roles playing fretted, fretless, multi-string,
electric upright, and tenor basses as well as rhythm guitar
and some keyboards.
2009
saw Sean's star continue to rise as he performed with
two other bass stars - Brian Bromberg and Esperanza Spalding
- at the prestigious Park City Jazz Festival.
Another
aspect of Sean's career is his work as a writer for some
of the top magazines in the industry, including Bass Player,
Vintage Guitar, Premier Guitar, Christian Musician and
Worship Musician. In fact, Sean got into writing thanks
to our VP, Sales & Relationships, Lane Baldwin. "Lane
was the one who saw something worth pursuing," Sean
says, "and pushed me to do it. Obviously, I'm really
glad he did that!"
Sean
has been a member of the family for over a decade, and
certainly appreciates the strong relationships he has
with David, Lane and many of our other endorsers, but
that's not the main reason he's here. "Yes, relationships
are very important, but the very first consideration is
tone," says Sean. "My schedule includes everything
from Country to my own solo career as a Jazz artist, and
David has always been at the heart of everything I need
from a bass amp. I'm very proud and excited to be one
of the first endorsers of his new company."
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