Matt Ross-Spang

Matt Ross-Spang is an American record producer, engineer, and mixer. His credits include such artists as Jason Isbell, Margo Price, John Prine and Elvis Presley.

Matt Ross-Spang
Background information
Born (1987-01-14) January 14, 1987
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Occupation(s)
WebsiteOfficial website

Life and career

Matt Ross-Spang, born in Memphis, Tennessee, began working at the Sun Studio when he was just 16, working his way from an intern to the Chief Engineer. Wanting to capture what made Sun Studio great, Ross-Spang championed hard to find, install, and use the same period equipment that Sam Phillips engineered with from the 1950s.[1] His 11 years of dedication to Sun, and its signature sound, garnered national attention when it was featured by Lester Holt on NBC's Nightly News[2] and The Today Show, as well as NPR's All Things Considered.[3]

In 2015, Ross-Spang left Sun Studio to venture out on his own as an engineer and producer. His first project post-Sun was to engineer and mix Jason Isbell's "Something More Than Free" for acclaimed Producer Dave Cobb.[4] This record earned him his first Grammy Award.[5] The record broke several records debuting at #1 on the Country, Rock, Folk, and Indie Charts. It also broke Americana Radio chart records, staying #1 for over 25 weeks. The record won Grammys for Best Americana Album and Best Americana Song for (24 Frames).

Ross-Spang has continued engineering for Dave Cobb on records by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Chris Isaak, The Rival Sons, Corb Lund, Lori Mckenna, Brett Dennen and the album "Southern Family."

Other recent releases include the latest Sheepdogs record, "Future Nostalgia,"[6] and the debut album by Margo Price. Price's album, entitled "Midwest Farmer's Daughter", it was recorded in 2014 at Sun Studio [7] and released on Third Man records. Engineered, mixed and co-produced by Ross-Spang,[8] the record debuted this year in the top 10 Billboard country charts to critical acclaim.

In 2016, Ross-Spang was hired by Sony Records to mix 18 previously unreleased songs by Elvis Presley from his historic 1976 sessions from the Jungle Room at Graceland.[9]

Later that year, Ross-Spang mixed and engineered the Lori McKenna album, The Bird and the Rifle, which later went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Album and Best American Roots Song by the Recording Academy.

2017 has seen the release of Sean Rowe's new album, Lore, which Ross-Spang produced and engineered. American Songwriter magazine gave the record 4 out of 5 stars.[10]

In September 2018, Ross-Spang participated in Amazon Music's first 'Produced By' series, which asks producers to develop music exclusively for Amazon customers. His contributions include tracks from Al Green, Margo Price, John Prine, Erin Rae, and William Bell.[11]

Awards and recognition

Matt Ross-Spang worked as the engineer on The Fluffy Jackets' debut album "Fighting Demons" featuring producer/ guitarist Manny Charlton (Nazareth) and bassist Neil Murray (Whitesnake). The album won the Best Studio Album of the Year Award for 2014, voted by listeners of The Blues Hour show in UK and France.

One year later, Ross-Spang won a Grammy Award for Jason Isbell's, "Something More Than Free" in 2015.

The City of Memphis named him one of its "30 under 30" Memphians in 2015[12]

In 2016, Ross-Spang was awarded the Key to the City of Memphis.[13]

He was featured on the Working Class Audio podcast with Matt Boudreau.[14]

For their January/February 2017 issue, Tape Op magazine interviewed Ross-Spang about his past and the future of music production.[15]

At the 2018 Grammy Awards, Ross-Spang received a Grammy for his work on Jason Isbell and the 400 unit's album, The Nashville Sound. The album received a Grammy Awards for Best Americana Album. Additionally, "If We Were Vampires" won the Grammy for Best American Roots Song.

At the 2018 UK Americana Awards, Emily Barker's album, Sweet Kind of Blue, was nominated for Best Album of the Year.[16]

Selected discography
YearAlbumArtistCredits
2020Getting into KnivesThe Mountain GoatsProduction, engineering, mixing
2020The UnravelingDrive-By TruckersMixing, Recording
2020Bone StructureRon PopeMixing
2020Josh Ritter & The Milk Carton KidsJosh Ritter, The Milk Carton KidsMixing
2019Down To The RiverThe Allman Betts BandProducer, Engineer, Mixing
201999 Cent DreamsEli "Paperboy" ReedProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2019The International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, August 23, 1969Elvis PresleyMixing
2019Call Me LuckyDale WatsonMixing
2019Front PorchJoy WilliamsEngineer
2019The Flood In ColorJoe PugEngineer
2019The Dream And The DreamerJeremy IveyMixing
2019Years To BurnCalexico, Iron & WineProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2019In League with DragonsThe Mountain GoatsEngineer
2018The Tree of ForgivenessJohn PrineEngineer
2018Lonesome as a ShadowCharley CrockettProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2018Don't Let The Devil RidePaul ThornEngineer, Mixing
2018Ancient NoisePatrick SweanyProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2018To Rise You Gotta FallNicki BluhmProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2018Elvis Presley: The Searcher (Original Soundtrack)Elvis PresleyMastering, Mixing
2018EncoreAnderson EastEngineer
2018Among The GhostsLuceroEngineer, Co-Producer, Mixing
2018To The SunsetAmanda ShiresEngineer
2018Once In A Blue MoonMcKenna BrayEngineer, Mixing
2018Elvis Was A Love AffairDale WatsonMixing, Recording
2018Produced By: Matt Ross-SpangErin Rae, Margo Price, John Prine, Al Green, William BellProducer
2017The Nashville SoundJason IsbellEngineer
2017All American MadeMargo PriceProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2017New LoreSean RoweProducer, Engineer
2017Walk into a StormThe Lone BellowEngineer
2017Sweet Kind of BlueEmily BarkerProducer, Mixing
2017Love Light OrchestraLove Light OrchestraProducer
2017639 MadisonSusan MarshallProducer
2017WeaknessMargo PriceProducer
2017This Son Is A Stranger To YouRich MinusProducer, Tracking
2017Paper CowboyMargo PriceProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2017West Coast TownChris ShiflettMixing, Recording
2017Eli Paper Boy Reed Meets High & Mighty Brass BandEli Paper Boy ReedProducer, Engineer, Mixing
2016The Bird and the RifleLori McKennaEngineer, Mixing
2016American BandDrive By TruckersEngineer
2016Hollow BonesRival SonsEngineer
2016Midwest Farmer's DaughterMargo PriceProducer, Engineer, Mixing, Wah Wah Guitar
2016Por FavorBrett DennenEngineer, Mixing, Recording
2016Southern FamilyVarious ArtistsEngineer, Mixing, Recording, Stomping
2016Way Down in the Jungle RoomElvis PresleyMixing
2016Memphis Ukulele BandMemphis Ukulele BandProducer, Mixing, Ukulele [Baritone], Mellotron, Percussion
2016My Piece Of LandAmanda ShiresEngineer
2016Ain't Who I WasBonnie BishopEngineer, Mixing
2016Shine On Rainy DayBrent CobbMixing, Recording
2016The Things That We Are Made OfMary Chapin CarpenterMixing, Recording
2015Future NostalgiaThe SheepdogsEngineer
2015Things That Can't Be UndoneCorb LundEngineer
2015Something More Than FreeJason IsbellEngineer
2015Decorations Of RedSusan MarshallProducer, Engineer
2015Trinity My DearMark Edgar StuartEngineer
2015First Comes The NightChris IsaakEngineer
2014Fighting Demons (Sun Studio Session)The Fluffy JacketsEngineer
2014Hillbillies and Holy RollersJason D. WilliamsEngineer, Mixing
2014Scaredy CatGrace AskewEngineer
2014If You....Dale Watson & Hillbilly CasinoEngineer
2013The Sun Studio SessionThe Howlin' BrothersEngineer
2013Grey Goose: A Tribute To LeadbellyDaniel Eriksen, Sting SjøstrømEngineer
2013Let It Rock: The Chuck Berry TributeThe RefreshmentsEngineer
2012Live From The Legendary Sun StudioGrace Potter & The NocturnalsEngineer, Mixing
2012MonstersOnward, SoldiersMixing
2012The Sun SessionGrand MarquisEngineer
2012Neptune CityNicole AtkinsEngineer
2011The Sun SessionsThe Texas Two/Dale WatsonEngineer
2011ShilohSean MartinEngineer, mixing [17]
2011Beyond The SunChris IsaakAssistant Engineer
2011The Sun SessionThe Border BlastersRecording, Engineer [18]
Ain't Who I WasBonnie BishopEngineer, Mixing
Black CrowBrent CobbMixing
CassidyBrett DennenMixing, Recording
Get 'Em Next TimeStar & MiceyEngineer
Grandma's GardenZac BrownRecording
Rooted in the BoneThe Memphis DawlsEngineer
ShedlightJed ZimmermanAssistant Engineer
Stand Up for ItBrett DennenMixing, Recording
The Sun SessionGrand MarquisEngineer
Trinity My DearMark Edgar StuartEngineer
What's the Secret?Brett DennenMixing, Recording
Working Without a NetDelta Joe SandersSecond Engineer
2009Glass Half FullDavid BrookingsProducer
2007ObsessedDavid BrookingsAssistant Engineer
2007EPThe SplintsEngineer
2005Chorus Verses The BridgeDavid BrookingsEngineer

[19][20]

References
  1. Boone, Joe. "Sun Studio Makes a Comeback". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. "See Where Elvis Presley Recorded His First Hit". NBC News. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. Blank, Christopher. "Sun Studio's Matt Ross-Spang Rediscovers a Vintage Sound". Wknofm.org. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. "Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  5. "Memphians Mitchell, Ross-Spang enjoyed Grammy triumphs in different styles". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-10-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Hudgin, Derek (11 April 2016). "Album Review – Margo Price's 'Midwest Farmer's Daughter'". Country Perspective.
  8. "Artist To Watch: Margo Price". Stereogum.com. 19 January 2016.
  9. "Way Down in the Jungle Room - Elvis Presley - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  10. "Sean Rowe: New Lore « American Songwriter". Americansongwriter.com. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  12. Alley, Richard. "20 < 30". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  13. "Instagram photo by Matt Ross-Spang • Jul 6, 2016 at 5:16pm UTC". Instagram.com.
  14. "WCA #097 with Matt Ross-Spang » Working Class Audio". Workingclassaudio.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  15. "Matt Ross-Spang: Eyeing the Future Through the Past". Tapeop.com.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-02-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "YouTube". Youtube.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  18. "Bandcamp". bandcamp.com. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  19. "Matt Ross-Spang - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  20. "Matt Ross-Spang". Discogs.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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