MUSIC

Music & Production

Chris Sharp is a Nashville producer, engineer, and rhythm guitarist — actively recording and releasing today. He co-founded and runs The Nashville Collective, a band and label built on live-to-tape sessions: no headphones, no click, no separation. The pedigree behind it runs deep — a Grammy for the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, a Grammy nomination as a producer, years touring with John Hartford's Stringband, and credits with Willie Nelson, Earl Scruggs, and Josh Graves.

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O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack cover
Grammy — Won

Album of the Year · 2002

O Brother, Where Art Thou? — the multi-platinum soundtrack that swept the 44th Grammy Awards. Chris played guitar and mandolin.

Details & listen →
Memories of John album cover
Grammy — Nominated

Best Traditional Folk Album · 2010

Memories of John (The John Hartford Stringband) — which Chris produced, engineered, and played on.

Details & listen →

What Others Said

“The finest bluegrass rhythm guitar player in existence today.”

— Bob Piekiel, The Banjo Encyclopedia

“The cream of the crop.”

— Willie Nelson

Played On

Productions

Records Chris has produced or co-produced across two decades.


The Nashville Collective

A band, recording label, and production company Chris co-founded with fiddler Matt Combs — and actively runs today. The premise is uncompromising: everyone in one room, playing live to tape. No headphones, no click, no separation. Chris produces, engineers, and plays guitar on the records. Its first release — fiddler Matt Combs' Fifty Years of Clown School — is featured above: the title-track single is out now, with the full album arriving August 21, 2026. The roster includes Brittany Haas, Dennis Crouch, Russ Pahl, Cameron Knowler, Maddie Combs, Robert Greer, and Brìghde Chaimbeul. Two IBMA Awards.

→ Visit The Nashville Collective

Session & Touring

A working rhythm guitarist and session musician in Nashville — still active. From 1997 he toured as the Lester Flatt-style guitarist in John Hartford's Stringband, and joined the Down from the Mountain tour. Tour credits include Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Constitution Hall, Universal Amphitheatre, and the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. Credits include Willie Nelson, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford's Stringband, Josh Graves, Kenny Baker, Tim O'Brien, Béla Fleck, Bobby Hicks, J.D. Crowe, and Alan O'Bryant.


Teaching

Lester Flatt Style Rhythm Guitar — a 13-part instructional series.

→ Watch the series on YouTube

Studio 607

Previously operated Studio 607 in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he recorded Working It Out and Songs We Like. It lives on as Studio 607 Productions on YouTube.

→ Studio 607 Productions on YouTube

Book

Embracing the Paradox — a memoir about rhythm guitar as a philosophy of ego dissolution and support. Editor: Bob Carlin. Foreword: Victor Wooten. In progress.