Brandon Bell is an American Grammy Award winning recording engineer, mix engineer and producer based in Nashville. His credits include Brandi Carlile, Alan Jackson, Sarah Jarosz, Joni Mitchell, Steep Canyon Rangers, Zac Brown Band, Janis Ian, The Highwomen, Foo Fighters, Tanya Tucker, Parker McCollum, Earl Scruggs, Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Brandy Clark, Billy Strings, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Allison Russell, and Blackberry Smoke.
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. Since 2020, Bell has been working independently.
He has been featured as a special guest on music industry podcasts: Recording Studio Rock Stars and Surviving The Music Industry with Brandon Harrington.
Bell is a member of The Recording Academy and sits on a committee of the Audio Engineering Society.
Education Bell graduated from Heber Springs High School in Heber Springs, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Recording Industry degree at Middle Tennessee State University. MTSU honored Bell in 2023 for his achievements in the recording industry.
Selected discography YearAlbumArtistCredit2006Like Red on a RoseAlan JacksonEngineer2008The Ultimate Collection: Live at the RymanEarl ScruggsEngineer2010Up On The RidgeDierks BentleyEngineer, mixing assistant2011DaybreakSierra HullEngineer, mixing, editing2011Rare Bird AlertSteve Martin & The Steep Canyon RangersEngineer2011Follow Me DownSarah JaroszEngineer2012HomeDierks BentleyAssistant, engineer2012Nobody Knows YouThe Steep Canyon RangersEngineer, mixing2014Sonic HighwaysFoo FightersStudio Assistant2017Welcome HomeZac Brown / Zac Brown BandEngineer, mixing2019Ridin' High....AgainJack IngramEngineer, mixing2019The HighwomenThe HighwomenEngineer2020Hollywood GoldParker McCollumEngineer2020Now I Don't KnowAdam ChaffinsEngineer, producer2021The Marfa TapesMiranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon RandallEngineer2023In 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) and the second in 2011 for Sarah Jarosz's Follow Me Down.
He won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2013 for his work on Steep Canyon Rangers’ album Nobody Knows You and again in 2025 for Live Vol. 1 by Billy Strings.
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 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/WorkAwardResult2025Grammy AwardsBilly Strings - Live Vol. 1Best Bluegrass AlbumWon2024JUNO AwardsWiliam Prince - Stand in the JoyContemporary Roots Album of the YearWon2024Grammy Awards Joni Mitchell - At NewportBest Folk AlbumWon2024UK Americana Music AwardsAllison Russell - The ReturnerInternational Album of the YearWon2024Grammy AwardsAllison Russell - The ReturnerBest Americana AlbumNomination2024Americana Music AwardsBrandy Clark - Brandy ClarkAlbum of the YearNomination2024Grammy Awards Brandy Clark - Brandy ClarkBest Americana AlbumNomination2023Grammy Awards Janis Ian - The Light At The End Of The LineBest Folk AlbumNomination2023Grammy Awards Brandi Carlile - “You And Me On The Rock”Record of the YearNomination2023Grammy AwardsBrandi Carlile “In These Silent Days”Album of the YearNomination2023Grammy AwardsBrandi Carlile - In These Silent DaysBest Americana AlbumWon2022Americana Music AwardsBrandi Carlile - In These Silent DaysAlbum of the YearNomination2022Grammy AwardsMiranda Lambert - Marfa TapesBest Country AlbumNomination2022Grammy AwardsBrandi Carlile - "Right On Time"Record of the YearNomination2021ACM AwardsBrandon BellAudio Engineer of the YearNomination2020UK Americana Music AwardsThe Highwomen - "The Highwomen"International Album of the YearWon2020Americana Music AwardsThe Highwomen - "The Highwomen"Album of the YearWon2019Grammy Awardsthe Wood Brothers - One Drop of TruthBest Americana AlbumNomination2019Grammy Awards Mike Barnett - Portraits In FiddlesBest Bluegrass AlbumNomination2014Grammy AwardsSarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From BonesBest Folk AlbumNomination2014Americana Music AwardsSarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From BonesAlbum of the YearNomination2013Grammy AwardsSteep Canyon Rangers - Nobody Knows YouBest Bluegrass AlbumWon2012Grammy Awards Steve Martin - Rare Bird AlertBest Bluegrass AlbumNomination2011Grammy AwardsSarah Jarosz - Follow Me DownBest Engineered Album, Non-Classical Nomination2011Academy of Country Music AwardsDierks Bentley - Up On The RidgeAlbum of the YearNomination2010Country Music Association AwardsDierks Bentley - Up On The RidgeAlbum of the YearNomination2010Grammy AwardsDierks Bentley - Up On The RidgeBest Country Album Nomination2008Grammy AwardsEarl Scruggs - The Ultimate Collection: Live at the RymanBest Bluegrass AlbumNomination2007Grammy AwardsAlan Jackson - Like Red On A RoseBest Country AlbumNomination2007Grammy AwardsAlan Jackson - Like Red on a RoseBest Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalNomination Years reflect the year in which the Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
References