Bryan Bassett boasts an illustrious career as a professional musician, recording artist, engineer, and producer. With over 40 years in the music industry and 30 years of technical expertise, his contributions have significantly shaped the sounds of blues, rock, and funk.

Early Career and Wild Cherry (1974-1979)

Bryan Bassett’s musical journey began as a founding member of Wild Cherry, a CBS/Epic recording act. In 1976, the band skyrocketed to fame with the #1 hit “Play That Funky Music.” This song became a cornerstone of funk music and solidified Wild Cherry’s place in music history. Over the next few years, Bassett and the band charted four more singles and toured with some of the biggest R&B acts globally.

Pittsburgh Bands and Session Work (1980-1983)

Post-Wild Cherry, Bassett became a band leader and session guitarist in Pittsburgh, PA. He played with bands like Airborne, T-Dice, and The Silencers. During this period, he worked with renowned producer Felix Pappalardi (Mountain, Cream) on Airborne’s recording sessions at Criteria Studio in Miami.

King Snake Studio and Blues Influence (1983-1999)

From 1983 to 1989, Bryan was a session guitarist for King Snake Studio, performing with bands like The Midnight Creepers and Blue House. His guitar work was featured on over 25 blues albums for artists such as Rufus Thomas, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, Alex Taylor (featuring James Taylor), and the JB’s (James Brown’s famous horn section). Although touring and playing after 1989, he continued to be a Kingsnake mix engineer up until 1999!

Touring with Lonesome Dave’s Foghat (1989-1993)

Bassett joined Lonesome Dave’s Foghat as a touring guitarist from 1989 to 1993, performing over 150 shows annually worldwide. This period was pivotal, as it marked his initial integration into the Foghat family.

Molly Hatchet Era (1993-1999)

From 1993 to 1999, Bassett was the guitarist for Molly Hatchet, recording albums such as “Devil’s Canyon” (1996), “Silent Reign of Heroes” (1998), and “Kingdom of XII” (2000). These records were released internationally, and Bassett’s tenure with Molly Hatchet saw him performing hundreds of concerts worldwide.

Foghat: The Modern Era (1999-Present)

In 1999, Bryan Bassett became a permanent member of Foghat. His roles as guitarist, songwriter, engineer, and producer have been instrumental in the creation of several albums, including:

• Road Cases
• Millenium Tour DVD
• Family Joules
• Live II
• The Official Bootleg DVD, Volume 1
• Not Live at the BBC
• Last Train Home
• Live in St. Pete
• Under the Influence
• Live at the Belly Up
• Sonic Mojo

Bassett has not only played on and written most of these recordings but he also engineered, produced, and mastered most of Foghat’s works since 2000. His technical proficiency and creative input have been crucial in maintaining the band’s signature sound while allowing them to explore new musical territories. Reviews of their latest album, Sonic Mojo, particularly praise Bassett’s slide guitar work and production skills, noting his ability to infuse new energy into classic blues-rock tracks while maintaining an authentic feel​ (ROCK AND BLUES MUSE)​​ (Blues Rock Review)​​ (100% ROCK MAGAZINE)​​ (Front Row Report)​.

Technical Mastery

Beyond his performance career, Bassett has experience as a recording engineer and producer. From 1983 to 1999, he served as the first engineer and studio manager at King Snake Studio, recording and mixing over 75 albums for international release. His technical skills encompass 24-track analog recording, computer-based sequencing, and digital format recording, working with consoles like Sound Workshop, Trident, MCI, NEVE, and SSL.

Since 1999, Bryan Bassett has operated primarily out of his home studio, utilizing a Protools HD 2 system for mixing and a WAVELAB centered mastering system. His dual expertise in music and engineering allows him to communicate effectively with artists, integrating the musical and technical aspects seamlessly.

In 2007 Bryan was elected to be a Board Governor at the Florida Chapter of NARAS, (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) serving 2 terms and then served as an advisor. 

And in 2010, he became an Adjunct Professor and guest lecturer at Daytona State University for several semesters! His knowledge of all aspects of the music world, along with his genuine love of sharing his knowledge went a long way to changing the lives of many of his fortunate students!

Conclusion

Bryan Bassett’s career is a testament to his versatility and enduring talent. From chart-topping hits with Wild Cherry to his influential role in Foghat and beyond, Bassett’s contributions to music as a performer and engineer have left a lasting impact on the industry. His dedication to his craft continues to resonate through his work, garnering praise from critics and fans alike. And as yet another testament to his extensive input with Foghat, their current record. SONIC MOJO, on which he not only co-wrote many of the songs, played on them all, and also engineered, mixed, co-produced and mastered the project debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts where it remained in the Top 10 for 27 weeks as of this writing! As Roger Earl, Foghat founding member says “We would be nothing without Bryan! We certainly would not have been able to record and release all of the music we have since he joined the band!!”