Pierre Bensusan is a French acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist, and composer whose distinctive voice has made him a defining figure in contemporary world music. Known internationally as “Mr DADGAD”, Bensusan has spent five decades bringing his singular sound to concert halls and festivals across the globe.
Widely regarded as one of the great guitarists of the 21st century, his influence is such that fellow innovators have paid direct tribute - most notably when Michael Hedges titled a composition “Bensusan.” Awards include the Rose d’Or at the Montreux Festival, the Independent Music Award Grand Prix for his triple live album Encore, and repeated recognition as Best World Music Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine readers.
Celebrated by artists across genres- from Leo Kottke and Tommy Emmanuel to Mark Knopfler and Pat Metheny - Bensusan’s work has also attracted champions beyond the guitar world. Steve Vai released three of his albums on the Favored Nations label, and recent collaborations include studio work on Donny Osmond’s Start Again.
If world music is the artful fusion of tradition and innovation- blending folk roots with jazz, classical, and contemporary expression - Pierre Bensusan stands among its most eloquent voices. A pianist by training and self-taught guitarist, his pioneering approach to open tunings, especially DADGAD, has reshaped the acoustic guitar’s expressive possibilities.
On stage, Bensusan is at his most compelling. His concerts are immersive, lyrical journeys - intimate yet orchestral - where crystalline tone, rhythmic subtlety, and poetic storytelling converge.
With over half a million albums sold and thousands of performances worldwide since his debut in 1974, Pierre Bensusan remains a master storyteller and an essential live artist.
