Wikipedia

Ilya Toshinsky

Ilya Toshinsky (born Ilya Toshinskiy; Russian: Илья Тошинский) is a Russian-born session musician, songwriter, and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known for his extensive work as an A-list studio multi-instrumentalist, contributing acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, and Dobro to numerous chart-topping country music albums and singles.

Originally rising to prominence in the United States as a founding member and lead guitarist of the Grammy-nominated Russian country band Bering Strait, Toshinsky has since become one of Nashville's most sought-after session players. He is a multi-time nominee for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association (CMA) Awards for Musician of the Year.

Early life and Bering Strait

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Toshinsky was born and raised in Russia[where?], where he classically trained in music before discovering American bluegrass and country genres. In the 1990s, he became a founding member of the band Bering Strait, a group of young Russian musicians who blended classical arrangements with country and bluegrass, a style frequently dubbed "redgrass."

The band relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, and was featured in a prominent, multi-aired segment on CBS's 60 Minutes. Bering Strait signed with Universal South Records and released their self-titled debut album in 2003, earning a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance for the track "Bearing Straight." Toshinsky played electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, and provided backing arrangements on their initial records before the group disbanded in 2006.

Session career

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Following the dissolution of Bering Strait, Toshinsky transitioned into full-time session work. His ability to fluidly switch between acoustic rhythm guitar, intricate banjo rolls, and mandolin texturing made him an instant fixture in modern country production.

Over the last two decades, Toshinsky has accumulated hundreds of major-label credits, playing on albums for some of country music's biggest stars. Notable collaborations and instrumental roles include: Eric Church: Contributed banjo and acoustic guitar to Church’s breakthrough sophomore album, Carolina (2009). Blake Shelton: Provided core acoustic guitar tracks across numerous major hits and albums, including If I'm Honest (featuring singles like "Came Here to Forget" and "A Guy With a Girl") and Texoma Shore ("I Lived It"). Dolly Parton: Performed acoustic guitar on Parton's critically acclaimed album Blue Smoke (2014). Tyminski: Extensively handled acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, Dobro, and tenor 12-string acoustic guitar responsibilities on Dan Tyminski's solo venture Southern Gothic (2017). Mitchell Tenpenny: Tracked banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and mandolin for albums like Telling All My Secrets (2018) and This Is The Heavy (2022). Toshinsky’s performance history also spans major records for artists such as Pat Green, Joe Nichols, and many others in the contemporary Nashville scene.

Solo work

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On May 20, 2016, Toshinsky released a solo instrumental album titled Red Grass via the Hadley Music Group. The project pays homage to his musical roots, blending acoustic folk, progressive bluegrass, and the distinct country arrangements that defined his early career.

Awards and recognition

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As a testament to his studio prowess, Toshinsky is consistently nominated by peers and industry executives for top musical honors. He has been nominated repeatedly for Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year and Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. Furthermore, he has routinely been named on the ballot for the prestigious Musician of the Year category at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards alongside fellow elite Nashville instrumentalists.

Sources

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References

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