Pat Sansone

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Pat Sansone

Background information
Birth name Patrick Anthony Sansone
Born June 21, 1969 (1969-06-21) (age 38)
Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation(s) Musician
Instrument(s) Guitar
Keyboards
Percussion
Associated acts The Autumn Defense
Wilco

Pat Sansone (born June 21, 1969) is a multi-instrumentalist in the rock bands Wilco and The Autumn Defense.

Sansone was born in Meridian, Mississippi, which is the home of Jimmie Rogers, the father of country music. Upon entering college at The University of Southern Mississippi, Sansone found two musical kindred souls in Will Martin and Eddie Bo McRaney and started Beagle Voyage, a Minutemen/Hüsker Dü/The Who/Rush influenced power trio, with Sansone on guitar. Sansone went on to play guitar for Stretch Armstrong, a Black Sabbath meets the Butthole Surfers rock unit. Soon after, Sansone formed the band Birdy, which included fellow Mississippians Trey Batson, Ike Marr and Glenn Graham, who went on to play drums for Blind Melon. Sansone's tremendously tuned ear has led him to become a world class studio musician and producer. His own project The Autumn Defense was formed in New Orleans in 1999 with friend John Stirratt of Wilco, and the band is responsible for three full length albums, "The Green Hour" in 2000, "Circles" in 2003, and the self-titled "The Autumn Defense" in 2006. Stints living in Nashville and New York resulted in Sansone's continuing activity as a producer and studio musician. He has contributed to albums by Joseph Arthur, Andrew Bird, Josh Rouse, Swan Dive, Jenifer Jackson, Ryan Adams, and others.

In 2004, Sansone joined Wilco right before their tour in support of their album A Ghost Is Born, following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach. On tour, Sansone plays guitar, keyboard, maraca, and several other instruments, as well as singing backup vocals. He was also involved in the writing and recording recording of Wilco's 2007 release "Sky Blue Sky."