Sam Bacco is the Principal Percussionist of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, where he has contributed to over 40 recordings, earning 27 GRAMMY® nominations and 14 GRAMMY® Awards. Before joining the orchestra, he served as Principal Timpanist with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México.

A versatile artist across all genres, Bacco has been a first-call session musician in Nashville for over four decades, performing on multi-platinum and GRAMMY®-winning recordings with artists such as Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, The Black Keys, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Winwood, Don Williams, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Waylon Jennings, and many others.

As an educator, he has served on the faculties of the National School of Music (Mexico City) and Belmont University, and has presented masterclasses at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) and workshops worldwide.

Bacco is a respected instrument designer, builder, and historian, known for his consulting and product development work with major percussion manufacturers, holding several percussion related patents. His extensive collection of rare and historical percussion instruments, books, catalogs, and sound effects is recognized as one of the most significant private collections of its kind.

Through his companies, Main Street Percussion & Sound (M-PAS) and Diamond Drums, Bacco offers specialized percussion rentals, backline services, and handcrafted bespoke instruments. With plans underway for a dedicated recording and sampling studio, he aims to preserve the voices of rare percussion instruments, creating a lasting resource for composers, performers, and future generations.

In May 2025, Bacco will perform in the Nashville premiere of Edgar Meyer’s Second Bass Concerto with the Nashville Symphony, playing on a custom-built 3.5-octave quarter-tone tubaphone, which he personally designed and constructed for the piece.