Al Di Meola facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola at the Granada Theater, Dallas, Texas, December 6, 2006
Background information
Birth name	Albert Laurence Di Meola
Born	(1954-07-22) July 22, 1954 (age 71) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Jazz jazz fusion world music world fusion Latin jazz
Occupation(s)	Songwriter composer musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1974 – present
Labels	Columbia Telarc Tomato earMUSIC Manhattan Atlantic Concord

Albert Laurence Di Meola (born July 22, 1954) is a famous American guitarist. He is known for his amazing skill in jazz fusion and world music. His career took off when he joined Chick Corea's band, Return to Forever, in 1974.

Starting in 1976, he began a successful solo career. People praised his incredible guitar technique and his interesting songs. He often explored Latin music in his work. Some of his most famous works include the album Elegant Gypsy and the live album Friday Night in San Francisco. Di Meola is a Grammy Award winner and has worked with many other great musicians.

Early Life and First Guitar

Al Di Meola was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to an Italian-American family. He grew up in the town of Bergenfield.

When he was eight, he was inspired by Elvis Presley and the Ventures to play guitar. But it was hearing The Beatles that made him truly want to be a musician. His guitar teacher, Robert Aslanian, taught him about jazz. Di Meola practiced guitar for eight to ten hours every day as a teenager.

He loved many kinds of music, including rock bands like The Rolling Stones. He was a big fan of Santana because of their mix of rock and Latin sounds. However, he was most inspired by jazz guitarists like Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin.

Music Career

Joining Return to Forever

Di Meola with Return to Forever in Syracuse, New York, 1974

In 1971, Di Meola went to the Berklee College of Music. At only nineteen years old, he was asked to join the famous jazz fusion band Return to Forever. The band also included Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White.

Di Meola said it was a "dream come true." He played on three albums with the band. These albums were very successful and made the band more popular than ever. The album No Mystery won a Grammy Award.

The band's 1976 album, Romantic Warrior, was also a big hit. It sold over 500,000 copies. Soon after, the band broke up because the members wanted to work on their own solo music.

Successful Solo Albums

Di Meola with Chick Corea in Rochester, New York, 1976

As Return to Forever was ending, Di Meola released his first solo album, Land of the Midnight Sun. His second album, Elegant Gypsy (1977), was even more popular and became a gold record.

He became known for his fast, complex guitar playing. He also explored music from different cultures, like Spanish flamenco.

The Guitar Trio

Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco de Lucía performing in Spain in the 1980s

In 1980, Di Meola teamed up with two other guitar legends, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía. They recorded a live album called Friday Night in San Francisco. The album was a huge success, selling seven million copies around the world.

The trio got back together in 1982 to record a studio album, Passion, Grace & Fire. They reunited one last time in 1996 for the album The Guitar Trio.

Exploring New Sounds

In the 1980s and 1990s, Di Meola's music began to change. He started playing more acoustic guitar and explored music from Brazil. He also used a special guitar synthesizer called a Synclavier.

He said he moved away from loud electric guitar partly because of hearing damage from years of playing at high volumes. He released albums like Cielo e Terra (1985) and the World Sinfonia series, which showed his interest in world music.

Recent Years

Di Meola at a jazz festival in Germany in 2016

In 2006, Di Meola started playing the electric guitar more often again. He has continued to tour and record new music. In 2018, he received an honorary doctorate degree from his old school, Berklee College of Music.

In September 2023, he had a health scare and suffered a heart attack while performing in Romania. He took a break to recover but was back on stage performing by January 2024. He released a new album called Twentyfour in 2024.

His Unique Guitar Style

Di Meola is famous for his incredible speed and precision. He developed a special technique called palm muting. This is when a guitarist rests the side of their picking hand on the strings near the bridge. This creates a sharp, clear sound for each note.

He explained that he started doing this as a kid so he wouldn't bother his neighbors. He also liked how it made the notes "pop."

Di Meola believes in picking every note instead of using "shortcuts" like hammer-ons. This makes his style very different from many rock and blues guitarists. His unique approach has inspired many other guitar players, especially in rock and metal music.

Legacy and Influence

Al Di Meola has influenced a generation of guitarists. Famous players like John Petrucci of Dream Theater and Yngwie Malmsteen have said they admire his work. The late Randy Rhoads, who played with Ozzy Osbourne, once said Di Meola was his favorite guitarist.

Guitar Player magazine added him to its "Gallery of the Greats" after he won their readers' poll five times. He has won awards in four different categories, including "Best Jazz Guitarist" and "Best Guitar LP."

Di Meola sees himself as a composer first and a guitar player second. His mix of jazz, rock, and world music has created a lasting legacy in the world of guitar.

Discography

Di Meola has recorded many albums. Here are some of his most well-known works.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

• 1976: Best Jazz Performance By A Group – "No Mystery" with Chick Corea & Return to Forever

Guitar Player Magazine

Berklee College of Music

• 2008: Honorary Doctorate Degree

BBC Jazz Awards

• 2008: Lifetime Achievement with Chick Corea & Return to Forever

Latin Grammy Awards

• 2011: Best Instrumental Album – "Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody"

See also

In Spanish: Al Di Meola para niños