Earl Klugh ( ; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. Klugh has won one Grammy Award and received 13 nominations.
Biography At the age of six, Klugh commenced training on the piano until he switched to the guitar at the age of ten. At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by Chet Atkins's guitar work on an episode of the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums. Atkins, reciprocating as well, later joined Klugh on his Magic In Your Eyes album. Klugh also appeared with Atkins on several television programs, including Hee Haw and a 1994 TV special titled "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.
Klugh's first recording, at age 15, was on Yusef Lateef's Suite 16. He played on George Benson's White Rabbit album and two years later, in 1973, joined his touring band.
For their album One on One, Klugh and Bob James received a Grammy 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 also was awarded the “1977 Best Recording Award For Performance and Sound” for his album Finger Paintings by Swing Journal, a Japanese jazz magazine.
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 an event called Weekend of Jazz, featuring jazz musicians at the Broadmoor Hotel & Resort in Colorado Springs. 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. In November 2010, Klugh brought the 'Weekend of Jazz' to Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.
Discography
Studio albums Year Title Label Notes1976Earl Klugh EMILiving inside Your Love Blue Note1977Finger Paintings Blue Note1978Magic in Your Eyes Blue Note1979Heart String Blue Note1980Dream Come True EMI Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Fusion PerformanceLate Night Guitar Blue Note1981Crazy for You Blue Note1983Low Ride Capitol1984Wishful Thinking EMI1985Nightsongs Capitol Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental PerformanceSoda Fountain Shuffle Warner Bros.1986Life Stories Warner Bros.1989Solo Guitar Warner Bros.Whispers and Promises Warner Bros.Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance1991Midnight in San Juan Warner Bros.1994Move Warner Bros.1996Sudden Burst of Energy Warner Bros.1997The Journey Warner Bros.1999Peculiar Situation BMG2005Naked Guitar KochGrammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album2008The Spice of Life KochGrammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album2013HandPicked Heads Up
Earl Klugh Trio albums Year Title Label Notes1991 The Earl Klugh Trio, Vol. 1 Warner Bros.with Gene Dunlap and Ralph Armstrong 1993Sounds and Visions, Vol. 2 with Gene Dunlap, Ralph Armstrong & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Duet albums Year Title Label Notes1979 One on One Tappan Zee with Bob James - Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 19811982 Two of a Kind Manhattan with Bob James1983 Hotel California/Super Guitar Duo Verve with Hiroki Miyano1987 Collaboration Warner Bros.with George Benson1992Cool Warner Bros. with Bob James
Omnibus live recording Bobby Hutcherson, Carmen McRae & Earl Klugh, Blue Note Meets the L.A. Philharmonic (Blue Note, 1978) – live at the Hollywood Bowl in 1977 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Soundtrack albums Year Title Label Notes1980 How to Beat the High Cost of Living Columbia Hubert Laws & Earl Klugh1983 Marvin and Tige Capitol Patrick Williams & Earl Klugh1986 Just Between Friends Warner Bros. Patrick Williams & Earl Klugh
Video Year Title Label2001 The Jazz Channel Presents Earl Klugh Image Entertainment2003Earl Klugh In Concert BMG/Image
References
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