Pat Sansone

Patrick Anthony "Pat" Sansone (born June 21, 1969) is an American multi-instrumentalist in the rock bands Wilco and The Autumn Defense.

Early bands

Sansone was born in Meridian, Mississippi. Upon entering college at The University of Southern Mississippi, Sansone found two musical kindred souls in Will Martin and Eddie Bo McRaney and started Beagle Voyage, a power trio influenced by Minutemen, Hüsker Dü, The Who, and Rush. Sansone played guitar for Beagle Voyage and then Stretch Armstrong, a rock band influenced by Black Sabbath and the Butthole Surfers. Soon after, Sansone formed the band Birdy, which included fellow Mississippians Tray Batson, Ike Marr and Glen Graham, who went on to play drums for Blind Melon. In 2000 he joined Rogers Stevens (formerly of Blind Melon) to play the bass in the band Extra Virgin.

The Autumn Defense

Sansone's own project The Autumn Defense was formed in New Orleans in 1999 with friend John Stirratt of Wilco. The band has released five full-length albums: ''The Green Hour'' in 2000, ''Circles'' in 2003, the self-titled ''The Autumn Defense'' in 2006, ''Once Around'' in 2010, and "Fifth" in 2014.

Wilco

In 2004, Sansone joined Wilco before a tour in support of their album ''A Ghost Is Born'', following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach. On tour, Sansone plays guitar, keyboard, maracas, and several other instruments, as well as singing backup vocals. He was also involved in the writing and recording of Wilco's 2007 release ''Sky Blue Sky'', 2009's ''Wilco'', and ''The Whole Love'' in 2011.

Pat Sansone received a co-production credit for his work on ''The Whole Love''. He also received credit for arranging strings for the track "Black Moon".

Other projects

Sansone has lived in New Orleans, Nashville, New York, and Chicago working as a producer and studio musician. He has contributed to albums by Joseph Arthur, Andrew Bird, Josh Rouse, Mavis Staples, Swan Dive, Jenifer Jackson, Ryan Adams, The Clientele, The Milk Carton Kids, Karen Elson, Jonathan Wilson and others.

In 2009, Sansone made a guest appearance on Dawes's album ''North Hills''. In 2010 he appeared on the albums ''Familial'' by Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, ''Compass'' by Jamie Lidell, and ''You Are Not Alone'' by Mavis Staples.

In 2010, Sansone released a book of photography called ''100 Polaroids''. The book is a collection of Polaroid photographs taken with an SX70 camera. Sansone began photographing with the SX70 in 2006, and shot extensively over the next several years while traveling with Wilco and The Autumn Defense. The book is self-published by his own Sansonica Books. Prints of his works can be found at NAVA Contemporary and Citizen Parlor.

In 2011, Sansone produced the album "Korp Sole Roller" by Chicago-based artist Liam Hayes. The album was released in 2014 on the Japanese label After Hours, and then received a vinyl LP reissue in 2019 on the UK label Be With Records.

In April 2012, Sansone and Josh Shapera co-produced an EP, ''Weird Weather'', for the Chicago-based band Future Monarchs. In 2014, Sansone and Shapera produced the album ''Deserters'' for Future Monarchs.

In 2013, Sansone contributed string arrangements for the album ''Fanfare'' by Jonathan Wilson.

In 2015, Sansone and Shapera produced the album ''Ocean of Birds'' for duo Max Hatt/Edda Glass.

In 2017, Sansone and Fernando Perdomo co-produced the third album for artist Linda Perhacs, ''I'm A Harmony''. A single was self-released in 2016 called "The Dancer" which features Sansone on Mellotron and backing vocals.

In 2018, Sansone mixed two singles for Nashville-based band Sun Seeker, "Night's Alright" and "Good Year." He produced a full-length album for Sun Seeker which is yet to be released.

Also in 2018, Sansone produced the album "Primetime Illusion" for Wisconsin-based songwriter Trapper Schoepp.

In 2019, Sansone appeared on a single released by Robyn Hitchcock featuring the songs "Take Off Your Bandages" and "Sunday Never Comes." Sansone was featured on bass, keyboards, and backing vocals.

Pat Sansone co-produced the 2020 released album "Dixie Blur" by Jonathan Wilson and contributed on bass, acoustic guitar, Mellotron, synth, vibes and background vocals.

Sansone produced and played multiple instruments on Emma Swift's album of Bob Dylan covers, '' Blonde on the Tracks'', recorded between 2017 and 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee and also featuring Robyn Hitchcock.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sansone, Pat
1969 births
Living people
American multi-instrumentalists
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
American rock singers
Wilco members
20th-century American guitarists
21st-century American guitarists