Brent Mason

American guitarist born in 1959, established in Nashville as a country-music session musician and songwriter. His career has centered on studio work backing country recordings rather than on performing as a headline artist. Mason was born on 13 July 1959 in Van Wert, Ohio, and moved to Nashville after finishing high school, first playing there with the Don Kelly Band at the Stagecoach Lounge. He was named CMA Musician of the Year in 1997 and 1998, won a Grammy in 2008 for a country instrumental performance, and was taken into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2019. His own albums include Hot Wired of 1997 and Smokin' Section of 2006, made with his brother Randy; Valley Arts, PRS and Fender have each built guitars carrying his name. Brent Mason is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer whose career developed in Nashville's recording studios. Raised in Ohio, he taught himself the guitar as a child and later moved to Nashville, playing with the Don Kelley Band. Chet Atkins invited him onto the 1985 album Stay Tuned, opening the way to sessions with artists including Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn. Mason won a Grammy for his contribution to Brad Paisley's Cluster Pluck and has twice been named CMA Musician of the Year.