Music
Earl Klugh
born 1953 · acoustic guitarist, composer
Detroit-born acoustic guitarist, discovered as a teenager by Yusef Lateef, who learned at Baker's Keyboard Lounge and won a Grammy with Bob James.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 73- Detroit years
- 1953–1970s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Klugh started piano at six and switched to guitar at ten; at thirteen he was captivated by Chet Atkins on television, and years later Atkins would guest on his records. Growing up in Detroit, he spent his teenage evenings at Baker's Keyboard Lounge, chaperoned by his mother, and credits the club with launching his career: there he met George Benson, Chick Corea and Yusef Lateef, all of whom he later toured or recorded with, and heard Bill Evans, a central influence on his writing. His first recording, at fifteen, was on Lateef's album Suite 16, and in 1973 he joined Benson's touring band after playing on White Rabbit. His blend of nylon-string jazz guitar, pop melody and R&B made him a mainstay of contemporary jazz: he has recorded more than 30 albums, 23 of them Top Ten on Billboard's jazz chart, and with Bob James won the 1981 Grammy for best pop instrumental performance for One on One. He has received 13 Grammy nominations in all.
Highlights
- First recording at 15 on Yusef Lateef's Suite 16
- Frequented Baker's Keyboard Lounge as a teenager
- Grammy for One on One with Bob James (1981)
- More than 30 albums; 23 Top Ten jazz albums, five of them No. 1
- Thirteen Grammy nominations
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Favorite haunt · late 1960s–early 1970s
Baker's Keyboard Lounge
The Livernois Avenue club where teenage Klugh, chaperoned by his mother, met Benson, Corea and Lateef and heard Bill Evans.