He is a guitarist, pianist, songwriter and composer,
whose name is pronounced "Clue", born in Detroit, Michigan.He began playing the piano while
young and the guitar in December 1963 and when he was thirteen he saw Chet
Atkins performing on the Perry Como Show. From then on Chet Atkins would be his biggest influence,
although he had several others such as Laurindo Almeida, and they both later
guested on each others recordings.Just two years later, when he was fifteen, after being largely
self-taught with just a year of lessons, he started teaching guitar and got
noticed by the jazz musician Yusef Lateef.Soon he found himself working with many recognised jazz artists
and also as a touring member of George Benson's band and Chick Corea's Return
to Forever.Beginning to gain
a lot of attention he was signed by Blue Notes Records in 1976.He began releasing albums, often in
collaboration with the keyboardist Bob James and they received a Grammy
Award for their 1979 One on One. He has gone on to make numerous recordings since then
either as a solo artist, guest musician or with his Earl Klugh Trio that is
made up of him, the drummer Gene Dunlap and the bassist Ralph
Armstrong.Some of the other
artists he has worked with through the years include Patti Austin, Stephen
Bishop, Miles Davis, The Dramatics, Kenny G, Steve Gadd, Dave Grusin, Kenny
Loggins, Ralph MacDonald, David Matthews, Brenda Russell, Lee Ritenour, George
Shearing and Stevie Wonder. His
songwriting and compositions, which he writes using the piano as well the
guitar, are also much in demand with his music having being recorded by
singers and musicians such as Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin and on the
films How To Beat the High Cost of Living, Just Between Friends and Marvin
and Tige.A multi-Grammy
Award winner, he has released at least 30 of his own albums such as Crazy
For You, Dream Come True, Finger Painting, Heart String, Late Night Guitar,
Magic in Your Eyes, Naked Guitar, Soda Fountain Shuffle, Sudden Burst of
Energy and Wishful Thinking as well as Collaboration with
George Benson.Other albums
include Sails and Stay Tuned by Chet Atkins, Compositions
by Anita Baker, Body Talk, GB, Guitar & Bass, Livin' Inside Your
Love, Trios and White Rabbit by George Benson, No Particular
Harbor by Jimmy Buffett, Oasis by Robert Flack, All Around
the Town by Bob James, This Time by Al Jarreau, Blue Note Meets
the L.A. Philharmonic by the Los Angeles Philharmonic & Bobby Hutcherson
and Stay With Me Tonight by Jeffrey Osborne. Today he is still found recording at
his home studio and touring on an international level.
