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.
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.
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