Brian Walton

When asked about the greatest influence in his musical career, Brian reflected upon his childhood and dedicated that title to his music and drama teacher Mrs. Diehl. Recognizing his talent, she talked his parents into taking him to a rock concert, where he could learn more about performing as a soloist. After that night, his parents couldn’t keep him off the stage and Brian carried this defining memory of the concert with him into his career.

After high school, Brian went on to attend The Juilliard School where he pursued a degree in music composition and drama. Attending this prestigious performance school supplied him with the opportunities to grow his skills, such as apprenticing under legendary A&R Recording founder and producer Phil Ramone and composing with Superstars Judy Collins, Liza Minnelli, and Burt Bacharach.

While at Julliard, Brian became a valued member of the National Guard in 1980 and later served in the U.S. Army during the Somalia and Granada conflicts from 1981-1985. Rounding out his tour in Germany, his passion for music traveled with him overseas and notably, during this time, he coordinated with other talented artists to compose memorable soundtracks for among others, Pan American Airlines ‘You Can’t Beat the Experience’ (1982) and Maybelline’s ‘I’m At My Best’ (1984).

After his service in the Army ended in 1985, Brian remained in Germany, performing as a solo artist with various bands across multiple genres, including rock, metal, blues, jazz, country, and pop. From 1989-1993, he notably performed with The Bellamy Brothers, The Mavericks, Dwight Yoakum, Vassar Clements, Willie Nelson, Joe Diffie, and Johnny Paycheck through the highly renowned USO tour performances.

Brian’s iconic Made in the Shade album was released in 1993 by Sony Records which immediately hit the #2 spot in the Billboard Charts and solidified his career as a recording artist. Brian returned to the US in 2000 and has been producing, composing, and touring ever since.

Brian’s 40+ year career has resulted in a staggering number of accolades. Impressively, he has composed or performed on 11 critically acclaimed albums and over 200 successful ad campaigns; he’s also been featured in 118 major motion pictures and television series.

The majority of his works have gone platinum or gold, and all have been featured on the Billboard charts, on television, or in major motion pictures. As a trained pianist he also plays all manner of guitars, violin, harmonica, drums, as well as lap and pedal steel guitars. His over 450 published works have appeared in over 1400 productions since 2010. That’s more than any other composer, according to the American Society of Composers Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)!

Throughout his career, Brian has received numerous awards, like the Male Vocalist of the Year, Country Artist of the Year, and Most Versatile Musician Awards three years in a row, among other recognitions. Many of Brian’s compositions have been picked up and recorded by such celebrated artists as Wynonna Judd, Christopher Cross, 38 Special, Peter Tosh, Diana Ross, Anne Murray, and many more. Furthermore, he has been a dedicated and respected member of the Society of Composers and Lyricists, the Songwriters Guild of America, the Motion Picture Association, and ASCAP. These organizations have provided him with the necessary guidance and resources to flourish as a beloved lyricist and composer.

When he is away from the studio, Brian enjoys relaxing by heading outdoors to hunt, fish, or go off-roading. As a Rush fan, he can often be found researching memorabilia and adding pieces to his collection. Brian is often recruited by some of the most prominent names in the entertainment industry. Most recently, he has been contracted by Warner, Marvel, and Disney Studios where he started work in June of 2022 as an Associate Music Producer. Since his career has been his life-long hobby, Brian is constantly studying music, writing new compositions, and tinkering to discover new and innovative sounds.