Since his scholarship studies at the Juilliard School, percussionist Brian Slawson (b. 1956) has continued to pioneer innovative paths in music. Grammy-nominated as "Best New Classical Artist," Brian has appeared on NBC’s Tonight Show, Entertainment Tonight, the CBS Morning News and NPR’s All Things Considered. Mr. Slawson's extensive discography includes eight solo releases on the Sony/CBS and Belltone labels. His smash debut recording, Bach On Wood, hit Billboard's Top 10 and remains one of the world's premier vehicles for exposing new audiences to classical music. Brian's compositions and arrangements are published by Alfred Music and Tapspace Publications.
Slawson has performed with Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, Isaac Stern, John Cage, Robert Shaw, Bernard Haitink and opera great, Jessye Norman. He has recorded with pop icons from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Marie Osmond, punctuated jokes for comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Bill Maher and Don Rickles, and performed on hundreds of national TV and radio commercials (American Express, Budweiser, Exxon/Mobil, NABISCO, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Chevrolet, IBM and Chrysler et al.). Brian is the accessory percussionist and voice of “Gusto the Bulldog” in Warner Bros. Music Expressions curriculum and a featured artist in McGraw-Hill’s Spotlight on Music. In addition to serving as Principal Timpanist of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Slawson is a featured performer at Lincoln Center's, Meet the Artist Series. Brian also played Les Miserables on Broadway and was assistant conductor/percussionist for a national touring company of Phantom of the Opera. His multi media company, Slawsongs, has created award-winning custom music for feature films, television and radio. Currently, Brian composes for Warner Bros. Discovery networks.
Mr. Slawson proudly endorses Ludwig-Musser, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo, Grover Pro Percussion, Rhythm Tech and Alternate Mode. His teachers have included Saul Goodman, Buster Bailey, Alexander Lepak, David Smith and Drew Grouse.
Legendary vibraphonist, Lionel Hampton, described Brian Slawson as “one of the finest percussionists to come along in many years.” Modern Drummer magazine hails Brian as "a visionary, be it performer, producer or composer."
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