Earl Klugh

The highest praise Duke Ellington would offer people he admired was to say that their music was ‘beyond category,‘ and, in many ways, that phrase exactly captures the spirit of GRAMMY Awardwinning guitar virtuoso Earl Klugh. Since he released his inaugural album in 1976, the Detroit-born master of the acoustic-classical guitar has become one of the most imitated icons of the instrument, issued dozens of discs, 24 of which have been on Billboard’s Top 10 Best Jazz Albums, with six reaching the number one slot. During that time, Klugh’s recordings also received 13 GRAMMY nominations, and his collaboration with pianist Bob James, One on One, walked away with the 1980 GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.  He has worked with such diverse musicians as Vince Gil, Chet Atkins, Jake Shimabukuro, Arturo Sandoval, Mary J. Blige, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, and Al Jarreau.  Klugh has also produced more than 50 charts for GRAMMY winning classical orchestras.  ‘A class act since emerging as a class-A guitarist almost 40 years ago, Klugh never fails to amaze.  It is safe to say that an evening with Klugh in concert is one that will remain in the ol’ memory for months and even years to come.‘  Pollstar