Sutton's grandfather and father were regionally recognized fiddlers, and Sutton grew up playing in the family band, the Pisgah Pickers. In 1991, he played guitar for Karen Peck and New River, a gospel group. In 1993, he moved to Nashville.
Ricky Skaggs
Sutton first came to prominence in 1997 as lead guitarist in Ricky Skaggs' band Kentucky Thunder when Skaggs returned to bluegrass. Sutton eventually left the band to focus on session work.
Bryan was asked to join the bluegrass quartet Hot Rize in 2002. He has toured and recorded with them ever since, and has only missed one show since they re-formed.
Session work and touring
In addition to Skaggs and Hot Rize, Sutton has toured with the Dixie Chicks, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Hot Rize, Chris Thile, Tony Rice and others. In 2007-08, Sutton toured with Chris Thile & The How to Grow a Band, a project which later turned into the Punch Brothers. Bryan is one of the most in-demand session players in Nashville, and recently produced a record for Della Mae and the Cash Cabin. His style is a unique blend of staccato mixed with powerful chromatic and melodic movements which is integrated into the more common bluegrass, blues and folk leads that are common to the genre.
Other projects
In June, 2011 he launched the , as part of the ArtistWorks . In 2013, Sutton recorded the albumReady for the Times with T. Michael Coleman and David Holt. They recorded the album as a tribute to Doc Watson. The trio got together in 2011, and have performed frequently under the name Deep River Rising.
Recordings
For Almost Live, Sutton was joined by 17 guest musicians, including Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg, Chris Thile, and Stuart Duncan. Sutton's album Into My Own featured guests Bill Frisell, Ronnie McCoury, and Noam Pikelny. On 2016's The More I Learn, Sutton continued to develop and showcase his singing and songwriting skills. The album prominently features Bryan Sutton Band members Casey Campbell, Mike Barnett, and Sam Grisman.
2014 - Into My Own was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Bluegrass Album category
2015 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
2016 - IBMA Guitar Player of the Year
Gear
Bryan supports and performs regularly with his own signature model, a . He also uses a Bourgeois "" model dreadnought, and a Bourgeois "" slope-shouldered dreadnought, which is another model directly inspired by Bryan. He also regularly performs with a 1940 Martin D-28.
