Earl Klugh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Earl Klugh
Klugh in 1999
Background information
Born	(1953-09-16) September 16, 1953 (age 70) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Smooth jazz, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1970–present
Labels	Blue Note, United Artists, Liberty, Capitol, Warner Bros., Koch
Associated acts	Bob James, George Benson

Earl Klugh (/kluː/ kloo; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. He 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 the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on 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

Klugh playing at the Festival de Jazz de la Riviera Maya in 2008

Studio albums

Earl Klugh Trio albums

Duet albums

Soundtrack albums

Video

See also

In Spanish: Earl Klugh para niños