Award-winning Producer, Composer, and Performer.
Brian Walton has been a celebrated producer, songwriter, and performer for over 45 years, winning multiple awards for his compositions and production work. While most of his work has been in the motion picture industry, he is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and performer who has either performed his own music live or toured in support of other famous artists.
When asked about the greatest influence on his musical career, Brian reflected on his childhood and credited his music and drama teacher. Recognizing his talent, she persuaded his father to take him to a live concert so he could learn more about live performances. He applied that experience to his performance during the 1972 Rose Bowl parade, which ultimately earned him a scholarship to Juilliard and an apprenticeship at A&R Recording.
After high school, Brian attended Juilliard, where he pursued degrees in music composition and drama. Attending this prestigious performance school provided him with opportunities to develop his skills, including apprenticing under legendary A&R Recording founder and producer Phil Ramone and working with superstars such as Judy Collins, Liza Minnelli, and Burt Bacharach.
Brian became a valued member of the National Guard in 1980 and later served during the conflicts in Somalia and Grenada. Rounding out his tour in Germany, he carried his passion for music overseas. 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” and Maybelline’s “I’m At My Best.”
After his Army service ended in 1985, Brian remained in Germany, performing with various bands across multiple genres, including rock, metal, blues, jazz, country, and pop. From 1989 to 1993, he notably performed with The Bellamy Brothers, The Mavericks, Dwight Yoakam, and Johnny Paycheck during the highly renowned USO tours. Brian’s iconic Made in the Shade album was released in 1993 by Sony Records, reached #2 on the Billboard Charts, and solidified his career as a recording artist. Since then, he has released many more award-winning singles or albums.
Brian’s 45+ year career has earned him numerous accolades. The majority of his works have gone platinum or gold, or have been featured on television or in major motion pictures. His more than 450 published works have appeared in more productions than any other composer since 1989, according to ASCAP. Many of Brian’s compositions have also been recorded by famous artists, including Wynonna Judd, 38 Special, Peter Tosh, Anne Murray, and many others.
Brian has also received lots of performance awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year, Country Artist of the Year, and Most Versatile Musician, for his work with his band Bakersfield in the early 1990s. 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, of course, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
Today, Brian is recruited by some of the entertainment industry’s most prominent figures and has been contracted by Warner, Marvel, and Disney studios as an executive music producer working on major motion pictures and television series, including Snow White and the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.
When he is away from the studio, Brian enjoys heading outdoors to hunt, fish, or go off-roading. As a Rush fan, he often researches memorabilia and adds pieces to his collection. Because music has been his lifelong passion, Brian is constantly studying new recording techniques, writing new compositions, and tinkering to discover innovative sounds.
Courtesy of https://www.discogs.com