ILYA TOSHINSKIY

• From Moscow, Russia. Lives in Nashville.
• Pronounced “Eel-ee-yuh Toe-shin-skee.”
• Was a founding member of the Russian bluegrass/country band Bering Strait (also known as Cheerful Diligence and Siberian Heatwave). They migrated to Nashville and recorded three albums. Broke up in 2006.
• 2004, left Bering Strait and began working as a studio musician. He is a five-time winner of the Music Row award for top guitar player and two-time winner of the ACM award for musician of the year (specialty instruments). He has performed on recordings by Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Glen Campbell, the Doobie Brothers and Rascal Flatts (including their hit son “Banjo”).
• 2016, released solo banjo project Red Grass (Hadley Music Group).