Brandon Bell (recording engineer) explained

Brandon Bell
Origin:Heber Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
Genre:Bluegrass, Country, Americana, Rock, and Folk
Occupation:Engineer, Mix Engineer, Producer
Years Active:2005 - present
Website:mixerbell.com
Associated Acts:Zac Brown, Alan Jackson, Sarah Jarosz, Dierks Bentley, The Highwomen, Foo Fighters, Brandi Carlile, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Parker McCollum

Brandon Bell is a Grammy Award winning record engineer, mix engineer and producer based in Nashville.[1] His credits include Alan Jackson, Sarah Jarosz, Joni Mitchell, Steep Canyon Rangers, Zac Brown Band, The Highwomen, Foo Fighters, Tanya Tucker, Parker McCollum, Brandi Carlile, Earl Scruggs, Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Allison Russell, and Blackberry Smoke.[2]

Bell graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2004. In 2014, he was hired as the studio director and chief engineer at Southern Ground Nashville, owned by recording artist, Zac Brown from the Zac Brown Band.

He has been featured as a special guest on music industry podcasts: Recording Studio Rock Stars[3] and Surviving The Music Industry with Brandon Harrington.[4]

Bell is a member of The Recording Academy and sits on the committee of the Audio Engineering Society.[5]

Education

Bell graduated from high school at Heber Springs High School in Heber Springs, Arkansas; he earned a Bachelor of Science Recording Industry degree at Middle Tennessee State University.[6] MTSU honored Bell in 2023 for his achievements in the recording industry.

Selected discography

YearAlbumArtistCredit
2006Like Red on a RoseAlan JacksonEngineer
2008The Ultimate Collection: Live at the RymanEarl ScruggsEngineer
2010Up On The RidgeDierks BentleyEngineer, mixing assistant
2011DaybreakSierra HullEngineer, mixing, editing
2011Follow Me DownSarah JaroszEngineer
2012HomeDierks BentleyAssistant, engineer
2012Nobody Knows YouSteep Canyon RangersEngineer, mixing
2014Sonic HighwaysFoo FightersStudio Assistant
2017Welcome HomeZac Brown / Zac Brown BandEngineer, mixing
2019Ridin' High....AgainJack IngramEngineer, mixing
2019The HighwomenThe HighwomenEngineer
2020Hollywood GoldParker McCollumEngineer
2020Now I Don't KnowAdam ChaffinsEngineer, producer[7]
2021The Marfa TapesMiranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon RandallEngineer
2023In These Silent DaysBrandi CarlileEngineer

Awards

Bell has received two nominations for Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical with Gary Paczosa. The first in 2006 for Alan Jackson's Like Red on a Rose (which is also Gold Certified by RIAA)[8] and the second in 2011 for Sarah Jarosz's Follow Me Down.[9]

He won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2013 for his work on Steep Canyon Rangers’ album Nobody Knows You.[10]

He engineered Brandi Carlile's lead single Right on Time, from the Album In These Silent Days. The single received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance in 2022.

Bell was nominated for Audio Engineer of The Year for the 2022 ACM Awards. He also engineered The Marfa Tapes which was nominated for Best Country Album[11] at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2023, Bell won the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album for his work as an engineer on Brandi Carlile's album In These Silent Days. The album also received the Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Carlile's single "Broken Horses" won Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. "You and Me on the Rock" was nominated for Record of the Year, Best Americana Performance, and Best American Roots Song.

In 2024, Bell won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album for his work on Joni Mitchell's album At Newport. Allison Rusell's album The Returner and Brandy Clark's album Brandy Clark were each nominated for Best Americana Album. He contributed additional engineering to Billy Strings' album Me/And/Dad, which was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album.

YearAwardRecipient/Artist/WorkAwardResult
2024Grammy Awards Joni Mitchell - At NewportBest Folk AlbumWon
2024Grammy AwardsAllison Russell - The ReturnerBest Americana AlbumNomination
2024Grammy Awards Brandy Clark - Brandy ClarkBest Americana AlbumNomination
2023Grammy Awards Janis Ian - The Light At The End Of The LineBest Folk AlbumNomination
2023Grammy Awards Brandi Carlile - “You And Me On The Rock”Record of the YearNomination
2023Grammy AwardsBrandi Carlile “In These Silent Days”Album of the YearNomination
2023Grammy AwardsBrandi Carlile - In These Silent DaysBest Americana AlbumWon
2022Grammy AwardsMiranda Lambert - Marfa TapesBest Country AlbumNomination
2022Grammy AwardsBrandi Carlile - "Right On Time"Record of the YearNomination
2021ACM AwardsBrandon BellAudio Engineer of The YearNomination
2019Grammy Awardsthe Wood Brothers - One Drop of TruthBest Americana AlbumNomination
2019Grammy Awards Mike Barnett - Portraits In FiddlesBest Bluegrass AlbumNomination
2014Grammy AwardsSarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From BonesBest Folk AlbumNomination
2013Grammy AwardsSteep Canyon Rangers - Nobody Knows YouBest Bluegrass AlbumWon
2012Grammy Awards Steve Martin - Rare Bird AlertBest Bluegrass AlbumNomination
2011Grammy AwardsSarah Jarosz - Follow Me DownBest Engineered Album, Non-Classical Nomination
2011Academy of Country Music AwardsDierks Bentley - Up On The RidgeAlbum of the YearNomination
2010Country Music Association AwardsDierks Bentley - Up On The RidgeAlbum of the YearNomination
2010Grammy AwardsDierks Bentley - Up On The RidgeBest Country Album Nomination
2008Grammy AwardsEarl Scruggs - The Ultimate Collection: Live at the RymanBest Bluegrass AlbumNomination
2007Grammy AwardsAlan Jackson - Like Red On A RoseBest Country AlbumNomination
2007Grammy AwardsAlan Jackson - Like Red on a RoseBest Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalNomination

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020-11-23 . Brandon Bell . 2024-02-06 . GRAMMY.com . en.
  2. Web site: Brandon Bell Credits . 2024-02-06 . AllMusic . en.
  3. Web site: 2019-04-12. RSR188 - Brandon Bell - Recording Zac Brown and Alan Jackson at Southern Ground Nashville.. 2021-04-26. Recording Studio Rockstars. en-US.
  4. Web site: Brandon Bell. 2021-04-26. Surviving the Music Industry Podcast. en-US.
  5. Web site: Nashville AES Section. 2021-04-26. www.aes.org.
  6. Web site: 2013 President's Biennial Report. 2021-04-28. Issuu. 14 February 2013 . en.
  7. Web site: 2020-08-28. Adam Chaffins Revisits "Further Away" With An Acoustic Version & Video Featuring Brit Taylor. 2021-05-01. The Country Note. en-US.
  8. Web site: Gold & Platinum. 2021-04-26. RIAA. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2011-12-01. Production Grammy Nominees Announced. 2021-04-28. ProSoundNetwork.com. en-US.
  10. Web site: Greenburg. Zack O'Malley. Grammy Winners 2013: The Full List. 2021-04-26. Forbes. en.
  11. Web site: Academy of Country Music Nominees. 2022-02-18. www.acmcountry.com. en.