Earl Klugh

Earl Klugh
Background information
Born	(1953-09-16) September 16, 1953 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Smooth jazz, crossover jazz, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Labels	Blue Note, Warner Bros., Capitol, Koch
Website	www.earlklugh.com

Earl Klugh (pronunciation: /kluː/ KLOO; born September 16, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. In 2006 Modern Guitar magazine wrote that Klugh "is considered by many to be one of the finest acoustic guitar players today."^[1]

Biography

At the age of three, Klugh commenced training on the piano until at his age of ten and switched to the guitar. At the age of thirteen, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show.^[2] Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums. Atkins, reciprocating as well, joined Earl on his Magic In Your Eyes album. Klugh also appeared with Atkins on several television programs, including Hee Haw and a 1994 TV special entitled "Read my Licks". Klugh was also influenced by Bob James, Ray Parker Jr, Wes Montgomery and Laurindo Almeida. His sound is a blend of these jazz, pop and rhythm and blues influences, forming a potpourri of sweet contemporary music original to only him.^[1]

Klugh's first recording, at age fifteen, was on Yusef Lateef's Suite 16.^[3] He played on George Benson's White Rabbit album and two years later, in 1973, joined his touring band.^[4]

For their album One on One, Klugh and Bob James received a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981. He has since received 12 Grammy nominations, millions of record and CD sales, and continues touring worldwide to this day.

Klugh has recorded over 30 albums including 23 Top Ten charting records—five of them No. 1—on Billboard's Jazz Album chart. With 2008's The Spice of Life, Klugh earned his 12th career Grammy nomination—his second nomination and release on the independent Koch label.

Each spring, Klugh hosts a special Weekend of Jazz featuring jazz legends and greats at the Five-Star Broadmoor Hotel & Resort in Colorado Springs.^[5] Jazz greats including Ramsey Lewis, Patti Austin, Chuck Mangione, Bob James, Joe Sample, Chris Botti, Roberta Flack, and Arturo Sandoval have all performed at the annual event set in foot of the Colorado Rockies. In November 2010, Klugh brought the 'Weekend of Jazz' to Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.^[6]

Discography

Studio albums

Earl Klugh Trio albums

Duet albums

Soundtrack albums

Best of... albums

Compilation albums

DVDs & video

References

External links

• Official website
• Earl Klugh discography at Discogs
• Earl Klugh at the Internet Movie Database