Session vocalist

Session musicians, also called studio musicians, are highly skilled professionals who are hired to perform in recording sessions as well as live performances. Many session musicians specialize in playing rhythm section instruments such as guitar, piano, bass or drums. Other musicians specialize in brass and woodwinds as well as strings. Many session musicians "double" on multiple instruments, a valuable skill that enables them to play in a wider range of musical situations, genres and styles. Common doubling examples include double bass and electric bass; acoustic guitar and mandolin; piano and accordion; and saxophone and other woodwind instruments.

Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble or band and instead accompany a wide variety of singers and soloists. Session musicians work behind the scenes and rarely achieve individual fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders. However, some backing bands of session musicians have become well known (e.g., The Wrecking Crew and Motown's The Funk Brothers), and top session musicians are well-known and widely respected within the music industry.

Session musicians are used in any situation where professional musical skills are needed on a short-term basis. Typically session musicians are used by recording studios to provide backing tracks for other musicians for recording sessions and live performances; recording music for advertising, film and television; or theatrical productions. Some session musicians have formed a rhythm section that was repeatedly used for recordings. In the 2000s, the terms "session musician" and "studio musician" are synonymous, though in past decades the latter term more typically described musicians who were associated with a particular record company, recording studio or entertainment agency.

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