You might not recognise the name of guitarist Earl Klugh if you are outside the Jazz sphere but in the guitar world he is a much respected guitarist. Full disclosure, I have four of his albums. He played Smooth jazz before smooth jazz, and on a Nylon stringed guitar.
Career
Earl is a Grammy Award-winning guitarist known for his elegant blend of jazz, pop, and classical influences. With his lyrical playing style and impeccable technique, Klugh has captivated audiences worldwide, earning him a reputation as one of the finest acoustic guitarists of his generation. His smooth melodies and effortless charm have made him a beloved figure in the world of contemporary jazz.
Since Klugh released his first album in 1976, the Detroit-born master of the acoustic-classical guitar has become one of the most imitated icons of the instrument. Often copied, never bettered.
Discography
He has released scores of albums, of them twenty four entered Billboard’s top-10 list of jazz albums and six that made it to the No. 1 slot. During that time, Klugh’s recordings also received 13 GRAMMY® nominations (the latest for HandPicked), which is an enormous mark of industry respect.
His collaboration with pianist Bob James, One on One, walked away with the 1980 GRAMMY® Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.
As a composer and songwriter, Klugh’s credit appears on a wide range of recordings from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Jamie Foxx, Roberta Flack, Mary J. Blige, Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau and many others. And he has been a guest artist with musicians from Buffett, Loggins, Brenda Russell and Stevie Wonder to jazz masters Miles Davis and McCoy Tyner.
Songs: Brazilian Stomp, Across the Sand, Midnight in San Juan