Adam Shoenfeld (born April 29, 1974) is a professional guitarist, songwriter and producer based in Nashville, TN. Primarily focused on modern country music, his guitar playing has been featured on over 200 albums, and is closely associated with
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
("
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)
"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" is a song written and recorded by American country music duo Big & Rich. It was released in April 2004 as the second single from their debut album '' Horse of a Different Color''. It reached number 11 on the U.S. '' ...
") and
Jason Aldean ("
Hicktown
"Hicktown" is the debut single by American country music artist Jason Aldean, released on March 28, 2005 from his self-titled debut album. The song was written by Big & Rich's Big Kenny and John Rich along with Vicky McGehee. It was Aldean's fi ...
").
History
Born in
Huntington, NY
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. ...
, and raised in
Blairstown, NJ
Blairstown is a township in Warren County, New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Blairstown's population was 5,704. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 5,967[Big Kenny
William Kenneth Alphin (born November 1, 1963), best known by his stage name Big Kenny, is an American country music singer. He and John Rich comprise the duo Big & Rich, who recorded four studio albums and charted fifteen singles on the ''Billbo ...]
" Alphin.
After a brief period of touring in support of
Big Kenny
William Kenneth Alphin (born November 1, 1963), best known by his stage name Big Kenny, is an American country music singer. He and John Rich comprise the duo Big & Rich, who recorded four studio albums and charted fifteen singles on the ''Billbo ...
’s solo effort Live a Little, they formed the rock band luvjOi, and it was during this time that Shoenfeld met singer-songwriter
John Rich.
Simultaneously, the
MuzikMafia
The MuzikMafia was an informal collection of American country music artists, founded in October 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee by Big Kenny and John Rich (who compose the duo Big & Rich), along with Jon Nicholson and Cory Gierman.
They have been the ...
was born, a music and art collective in which Shoenfeld was a longstanding member and also included Jon Nicholson,
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Frances Wilson (born June 26, 1973) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She made her debut in March 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman", a number-one hit on the '' Billboard'' country charts. The so ...
,
Cowboy Troy
Troy Lee Coleman III (born December 18, 1970), better known by his stage name Cowboy Troy, is an American rapper and singer. He is best known as a representative of the country rap genre. He has released seven studio albums and one EP, including t ...
and others.
Rich began using Shoenfeld as a frequent guitarist in the recording studio, playing on demos of songs like "
Redneck Woman
"Redneck Woman" is the debut single of American country music artist Gretchen Wilson, released on March 15, 2004, from her debut studio album, '' Here for the Party'' (2004). Wilson co-wrote the song with John Rich. It is Wilson's only number-one ...
" and "
Hicktown
"Hicktown" is the debut single by American country music artist Jason Aldean, released on March 28, 2005 from his self-titled debut album. The song was written by Big & Rich's Big Kenny and John Rich along with Vicky McGehee. It was Aldean's fi ...
" (penned by Rich and later recorded by Wilson and Aldean, respectively).
After Luvjoi disbanded, the country duo
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
was formed by Alphin and Rich and signed to
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
in 2004.
Shoenfeld was invited to take part in the recording of the duo’s debut album Horse of a Different Color, which reached the top of the Billboard Country Albums Chart and featured Shoenfeld’s guitar playing on the multi-platinum hit, "
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)
"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" is a song written and recorded by American country music duo Big & Rich. It was released in April 2004 as the second single from their debut album '' Horse of a Different Color''. It reached number 11 on the U.S. '' ...
," a fusion of country, rock and rap. He not only has played on every
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
album to date, but is a co-author on the songs "Real World," "High Five," "When the Devil Gets the Best of Me," and "M-E-D-L-E-Y of the Hillbilly Jedi."
Shoenfeld toured with
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, and while working with
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
also accepted a spot in
Jason Aldean’s band to perform at record label showcases. He continued to work with Aldean thereafter, and on Aldean’s self-titled debut album Shoenfeld performed the guitar part on "
Hicktown
"Hicktown" is the debut single by American country music artist Jason Aldean, released on March 28, 2005 from his self-titled debut album. The song was written by Big & Rich's Big Kenny and John Rich along with Vicky McGehee. It was Aldean's fi ...
," a Top 10 radio hit and platinum certified track noted for its heavy, hard-rock style guitars.
Since then, Shoenfeld has played lead guitar on every Aldean release to date, and is also co-author of the song "Laid Back," featured on Aldean’s
Old Boots, New Dirt
''Old Boots, New Dirt'' is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released on October 7, 2014 via Broken Bow Records. Its lead single, "Burnin' It Down", reached the top of the US Hot Country Songs chart duri ...
album.
The edgy sound made popular in part by Aldean and
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
made Shoenfeld an in-demand session musician, and he has gone on to play guitar on over 200 albums for artists such as
Luke Bryan,
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
,
Blake Shelton
Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country music singer and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin". The lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" spent five weeks at ...
,
Florida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line is an American country music duo founded in 2010 by Tyler Hubbard of Georgia and Brian Kelley of Florida, both of whom are vocalists and songwriters. Their 2012 debut single "Cruise" broke two major sales records: it was d ...
,
Jake Owen
Joshua Ryan Owen (born August 28, 1981), known professionally as Jake Owen, is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. Signed to RCA Nashville in 2006, he released his debut studio album, '' Startin' with Me'', that year.
Thi ...
,
Thomas Rhett
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the A ...
,
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
,
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...
,
Lee Brice
Kenneth Mobley Brice Jr. (born June 10, 1979), known professionally as Lee Brice, is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Curb Records. Brice has released five albums with the label: '' Love Like Crazy'', '' Hard to Love'', ...
,
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band founded in 1999. The band members were Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background vocals). DeMarcus is LeVox's second cou ...
and many more.
In 2012, Shoenfeld joined country superstar
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...
’s touring band, and currently tours with McGraw while also maintaining his recording career.
Producing
Shoenfeld has taken on the role of producer on the following albums: Kelsey Harmon’s One Big Favor,
Sarah Darling
Sarah Ann Darling (born October 4, 1982) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She has worked and toured in Nashville, Los Angeles, and the UK. Her last full album release, Wonderland, reached #1 on the official UK Country Charts.
...
’s Angels & Devils,
John Rich’s Rich Rocks,
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, and luvjOi’s Volume 2.
AWARDS
In 2005, Shoenfeld was awarded
SESAC’s Song of the Year honor for "
Mississippi Girl
"Mississippi Girl" is a song recorded by American country music singer Faith Hill. It was released in May 2005 as the lead single from her sixth studio album '' Fireflies''. A number one single on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts in la ...
," a No. 1 hit for
Faith Hill
Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.
Hill' ...
co-written with
John Rich.
Shoenfeld has been nominated for ACM Guitarist of the Year Award in 2011,
2012,
2015.
2017, 2018, and 2019.
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoenfeld, Adam
1974 births
American country bass guitarists
American country guitarists
American male bass guitarists
American country songwriters
American male songwriters
American session musicians
Living people
People from Huntington, New York
Songwriters from New York (state)
Guitarists from New York (state)
People from Van Wert, Ohio
Guitarists from Ohio
Country musicians from New York (state)
Country musicians from Ohio
21st-century American bass guitarists
21st-century American male musicians