"2011 Grammy Awards Winner for Best Pop Instrumental Album"
“Unparalled Jazz Guitarist Larry Carlton”

Guitarist Larry Carlton is a renown musician who took part in various albums of the leading jazz musicians of the 70's, including three albums that won the Best Pop Instrumental Performance which made his name known world wide. Larry Carlton in one of the most prolific guitarists and although to be prolific can be interpreted many ways, he certainly deserves to be named one. He ever ventures and masters different genres and still strives to find a new opportunity to win distinction. Over three-thousand album participation including those of Michael Jackson and Steely Dan and performing in a band such as 'The Crusaders' and 'Fourplay'; these are just some of Larry's various career achievements as a session musician. On the other hand, taking advantage of his experience and skill as a session musician, he successfully wrote, arranged, and produced his own solo albums which, with a playful and rhythmical jazz tunes topped with Larry's own guitar performances, was more than enough to attract the ears of many jazz lovers.

Born in the US, he first held a guitar when he was just six, and nine years later, at fifteen he formed his own band which marked the kick-start of his life as a musician. In the later 1960's he released his debut album, 'A Little Help From My Friends' through Uni Records, the second album 'Larry Carlton' in 1973, and a year afterwards, performed as a member in a top class instrumental band, 'The Crusaders'. Late in the 70's Larry started to venture in to the Japan record market in which he was becoming a hit and beginning with the previously released 'Larry Carlton' as a start he continued to appeal with 'Strike Twice' two year later in 1980, 'Sleep Walk' in 1982, and in 1983, 'Friends'. Later on he released 'Alone/But Never Alone' in 1986, followed by 'Discovery' in 1987, and 'On Solid Ground' in 1989.

He continued to release many records through th 90's, including his first best compilation album 'Collection' in 1990, and especially the album 'Larry & Lee', in which he worked in collaboration with another famous session musician and Larry's all time rival Lee Ritnour, which is recognised as a masterpiece of jazz guitar album of the time. Later on, he filled in the place of Lee Ritnour as a formal member in the Jazz Pop group 'Fourplay' in 1998 and performed with since.

Developed throughout his incessant music career, Larry's beautifully played melody line, based on the unmatched technique garnished with his own unique tone and style, became his trademark. Especially, being no less sophisticated in the blues, he bewitched the audience during the visit to Korean in 2002 by performing a well-played piece of blues. Larry certainly deserves to be acknowledged as a very important musician in the modern times where countless musicians work ceaselessly to develop their own style.

Presenting us with the blues of its prime through his 2010 album 'Take You Pick' which he worked on together with Tak Matsumoto, the guitarist of a popular Japanese band 'B'Z', he showed us his genuiness of his music once more by winning the 2011 Grammy Awards for the Best Pop Instrumental Album.