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Sonny Mayo


Member

1988-1991 Silence (USA) - guitars  
1995- Snot - guitars  
2002-2003 (hed) p.e. - guitar  
2005-2008 Sevendust - lead guitar, backing vocals  

Personal information

Born on: 16.07.1971

Sonny Mayo (born in Washington, DC on July 16, 1971) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and music producer. He began playing in a thrash metal band called Silence in the late '80's. Silence (John Mayes, Benjamin Gaither, Louie Denslow, Jason Robinson and Sonny), regularly sold out venues in the DC Metro area including the famous "Bayou" in Georgetown. While with Silence, he released a nine track CD, Vision, and recorded a 3 song tape with Alex Perialas (producer -Anthrax, Overkill, S.O.D.). One of the songs from the tape, "One Race" was made into a black and white video filmed at the Bayou (note, the director of the video was John Brenkus, who now does Sport Science on ESPN).

He then joined M.F. Pitbulls with Shannon Larkin (Wrathchild America, Ugly Kid Joe, Amen, now Godsmack) on vocals, Jamie Miller (Snot, The Start) on drums, and John "Tumor" Fahnestock (Snot, Noise Within) on bass.

In 1995, Mayo moved to Santa Barbara to join the band Snot. Snot was signed to Geffen Records in 1996 and recorded their only full length release, Get Some - released in May of '97. Sonny then rejoined Shannon Larkin in the band Amen in 1998 and subsequently recorded and released albums on Roadrunner Records (Amen self-titled) and Virgin Records (We Have Come For Your Parents).

In 2002, he replaced Chad Benekos in Hed PE. Touring in support of the album Blackout.

On January 19, 2005, he got a call from Morgan Rose to join Sevendust after Clint Lowery left for Dark New Day. Sonny co-wrote and recorded three full length releases with Sevendust. "Next" - Winedark Records, released 10/05. "Alpha" - Asylum Records, released 3/06, and Chapter 7: Hope & Sorrow - Asylum, released 4/08. Mayo was replaced by original Sevendust guitarist, Clint Lowery, in 2008.

Shortly after departing Sevendust, Snot reformed with ex-Divine Heresy frontman Tommy Vext on vocals. Snot wrote and recorded new material and toured the U.S. supporting Mudvayne in late 2008. Sonny decided not to continue with Snot in May 2009 and enrolled in the Recording Institute Of Technology program at Musicians Institute in Hollywood CA.

After receiving a certificate in audio engineering and Pro Tools certification, Sonny is producing and engineering bands.

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Mayo