The Green Room

Chris Sharp

Grammy-nominated producer, guitarist, and co-founder of The Nashville Collective. Over three decades of making records that balance clarity with feel, precision with soul.

Raised in North Carolina, Sharp started on fiddle and banjo before finding his voice on rhythm guitar. In his mid-twenties, he joined John Hartford's band and became a core member of the John Hartford Stringband, performing at the Grand Ole Opry and contributing to the albums Good Old Boys and Hamilton Ironworks.

During that time, Sharp released Good Fa'air Side, a record that brought together John Hartford, Earl Scruggs, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves, Gene Libbea, Mike Compton, Matt Combs, Terry Eldridge, Laura Weber, and Larry Perkins. It set the tone for his production style — live energy, sharp ears, and no wasted movement.

Sharp's production credits reflect range, not repetition. Working It Out, Lucky, Songs We Like, One Hand on the Radio with David Long — described as "timeless" and "sounding 50 years old and brand-new at the same time." Someday with Yoshie Sakamoto expanded into country-jazz fusion. Till We Meet Again for the Ozaki Brothers was honored by the International Bluegrass Music Museum and added to its permanent collection.

A decade after Hartford's passing, Sharp produced Memories of John, a Grammy-nominated tribute featuring Béla Fleck, Tim O'Brien, and members of the original Hartford band. It remains one of the most respected posthumous projects in modern bluegrass.

As a player, Sharp contributed to the Grammy-winning O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and appeared in the companion documentary Down from the Mountain. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Constitution Hall, and the Ryman Auditorium.

“The finest rhythm guitar playing in bluegrass.” — Bob Piekiel

“The cream of the crop.” — Willie Nelson