Earl Klugh ( / k l uː / KLOO ; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. Klugh has won one Grammy Award and has been nominated 13 times.

Biography

At the age of six, Klugh began training on the piano. He switched to the guitar when he was ten years old. At thirteen, Klugh became interested in the guitar playing of Chet Atkins, who performed on an episode of the Perry Como Show. Klugh performed as a guest on several of Atkins' albums. Atkins also participated in Klugh's album Magic In Your Eyes. Klugh appeared with Atkins on television shows such as Hee Haw and a 1994 special called Read My Licks. Klugh was influenced by musicians including Bob James, Ray Parker Jr., Wes Montgomery, and Laurindo Almeida. His musical style combines elements of jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues, creating a unique blend of modern music.

Klugh's first recording was at age fifteen, on Yusef Lateef's Suite 16. He played on George Benson's White Rabbit album. Two years later, in 1973, Klugh joined Benson's touring band.

For the album One on One, Klugh and Bob James won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1981. He has received 12 Grammy nominations, sold millions of records, and continues to tour globally. Klugh was honored with 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 that reached the Top Ten on Billboard's Jazz Album chart—five of them reached No. 1. In 2008, with the album The Spice of Life, Klugh earned his 12th Grammy nomination, marking his second release on the independent Koch label.

Each spring, Klugh hosts an event called Weekend of Jazz, which features jazz musicians at the Broadmoor Hotel & Resort in Colorado Springs. Artists such as Ramsey Lewis, Patti Austin, Chuck Mangione, Bob James, Joe Sample, Chris Botti, Roberta Flack, and Arturo Sandoval have performed at the event. In November 2010, Klugh brought Weekend of Jazz to Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.

Discography

• Bobby Hutcherson, Carmen McRae, and Earl Klugh, Blue Note Meets the L.A. Philharmonic (Blue Note, 1978) – performed live at the Hollywood Bowl in 1977 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.