American guitarist (born 1948)
Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton at Alfa Jazz Fest 2014
Birth name Larry Eugene Carlton Born (1948-03-02 ) March 2, 1948 (age 76)
Torrance , California, U.S.Genres
Jazz fusion ,
rock ,
pop Occupation(s) Musician, composer Instrument(s) Guitar Years active 1962–present Labels Website
www .larrycarlton335 .com
Musical artist
Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948)
[1] is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s for acts such as
Steely Dan and
Joni Mitchell . One of the most sought after guitarists of his era, Carlton has participated in thousands of recording sessions, recorded on hundreds of albums in many genres, including more than 100 gold records, as well as for television and movies. He has been a member of the
jazz fusion group
the Crusaders and the
smooth jazz band
Fourplay , and has maintained a long solo career.
[2]
Music career
Session work
Carlton was born in
Torrance, California , United States,
[1] and at the age of six began guitar lessons. His interest in jazz came from hearing guitarist
Joe Pass on the radio, after which he moved on to jazz guitarists
Barney Kessel and
Wes Montgomery , and blues guitarist
B.B. King . He went to junior college and Long Beach State College while playing professionally at clubs in Los Angeles.
[2]
Larry Carlton performing with
Yellowjackets at Bailey Hall, Cornell University, September 14, 1987.
During the 1970s, he found steady work as a
studio musician on electric and acoustic guitar in a variety of genres: pop, jazz pop, rock, rhythm and blues, soul, and country.
[1] Carlton appeared in hundreds of recording sessions with
Steely Dan ,
Joni Mitchell ,
Linda Ronstadt ,
Michael Jackson ,
Quincy Jones ,
Bobby Bland ,
Sammy Davis, Jr. ,
Paulinho Da Costa ,
Charly García ,
the Fifth Dimension ,
Herb Alpert ,
Christopher Cross ,
Dolly Parton ,
Andy Williams , and
the Partridge Family . Carlton performed on
Mike Post 's 1981 "
Theme from Hill Street Blues ", which won Grammys for 'Best Instrumental Composition' and for 'Best Pop Instrumental Performance'.
[3] In 1982, he appeared on
The Nightfly by
Donald Fagen , lead singer for Steely Dan.
[2]
His guitar work on Steely Dan's "
Kid Charlemagne " from their 1976 LP
The Royal Scam was ranked No. 80 on a list of the best guitar songs by
Rolling Stone magazine.
[4]
Solo career
Carlton recorded his debut solo album, With a Little Help from My Friends , in 1968. In the mid-1970s he built a home studio and called it Room 335 after the
Gibson ES-335 , an electric guitar he often played. He has recorded most of his albums at Room 335. In 1988, with his solo career in ascent, he was shot in the throat by a teenager outside Room 335 and suffered nerve and vocal cord damage,
[1] which delayed completion of the album he was working on at the time, On Solid Ground .
[2]
[5] His left arm was paralyzed and for six months he was unable to play more than a few notes.
[6]
Carlton produced six albums from 1978 to 1984. His version of "Sleepwalk" by
Santo Farina climbed the pop and adult contemporary charts. From 1985 to 1990, he did various solo projects, including the live album
Last Nite .
[1]
Carlton was commissioned to compose music for the
King of Thailand ,
Bhumibol Adulyadej , in honor of the king's birthday.
[2] He recorded The Jazz King (
Sony BMG , 2008) with a jazz orchestra that included
Tom Scott ,
Nathan East , and
Earl Klugh .
[7]
Awards and honors
Notable instruments
Carlton is best known for his 1969
Gibson ES-335 , being often referred to as “Mr. 335”.
[8] Other guitars he owns and plays include a 1951
Fender Telecaster , a 1964
Fender Stratocaster , and a 1955
Gibson Les Paul Special .
[9] He has used a 1958 Fender Deluxe amplifier, and his standard setup included a
Dumble .
[8]
He now plays Bludotone amplifiers.
In 2020, Carlton began endorsing
Sire Guitars , with whom he has a signature line of electric guitars.
Personal life
Carlton's son Travis is a professional
bassist .
[10]
Discography
As leader
(This Album is...) With a Little Help from My Friends (Decca, 1968)
Singing/Playing (Blue Thumb, 1973)
Larry Carlton (Warner Bros., 1978)
Mr. 335 Live in Japan (Warner Bros., 1979)
Strikes Twice (Warner Bros., 1980)
Eight Times Up [live] (Warner Bros., 1982)
Sleepwalk (Warner Bros., 1982)
Friends (Warner Bros., 1983)
Alone / But Never Alone (MCA 5689, 1986)
Last Nite (MCA 5866, 1986)
Discovery (MCA 42003, 1987)
On Solid Ground (MCA 6237, 1989)
Christmas at My House (MCA 6322, 1989)
Collection (GRP, 1990)
Kid Gloves (GRP, 1992)
Renegade Gentleman with
Terry McMillan (GRP, 1993)
Live at the Greek with
Stanley Clarke (Epic, 1994)
Larry & Lee with
Lee Ritenour (GRP, 1995)
The Gift (GRP, 1996)
Fingerprints (Warner Bros., 2000)
Deep Into It (Warner Bros., 2001)
No Substitutions: Live in Osaka with
Steve Lukather (Favored Nations, 2001)
Sapphire Blue (Bluebird, 2003)
Fire Wire (Bluebird, 2006)
Live in Tokyo with
Robben Ford (335 Records, 2007)
Greatest Hits Rerecorded, Volume One (335, 2007)
Take Your Pick with
Tak Matsumoto (335, 2010)
Plays the Sound of Philadelphia (335, 2010)
New Morning: The Paris Concert (335, 2011)
Four Hands & a Heart, Volume One (335, 2012)
Unplugged with Robben Ford (335, 2013)
Four Hands & a Heart: Christmas (335, 2014)
At Billboard Live Tokyo with
David T. Walker (335, 2015)
At Blue Note Tokyo with Steve Lukather (335, 2016)
Lights On [live] with the SWR Big Band (335, 2017)
Soul Searchin' with Paul Brown (Shanachie, 2021)
With
The Crusaders
Crusaders 1 (Blue Thumb, 1972)
The 2nd Crusade (Blue Thumb, 1973)
Unsung Heroes (Blue Thumb, 1973)
Scratch (Blue Thumb, 1974)
Southern Comfort (Blue Thumb, 1974)
Chain Reaction (Blue Thumb, 1975)
Those Southern Knights (Blue Thumb, 1976)
Free as the Wind (Blue Thumb, 1977)
The Good and Bad Times (MCA, 1986)
Happy Again (Sin-Drome, 1995)
Louisiana Hot Sauce (Sin-Drome, 1996)
With
Fourplay
4 (Warner Bros., 1998)
Snowbound (Warner Bros., 1999)
Yes, Please! (Warner Bros., 2000)
Heartfelt (Bluebird, 2002)
Journey (Bluebird, 2004)
X (Bluebird, 2006)
Energy (Heads Up, 2008)
Silver (Heads Up, 2015)
As sideman
With
Paul Anka
The Painter (United Artists, 1976)
The Music Man (United Artists, 1977)
Headlines (RCA Victor, 1979)
With
Joan Baez
With
Bobby Bland
His California Album (Dunhill, 1973)
Dreamer (Dunhill, 1974)
With
David Cassidy
Cherish (Bell, 1972)
Rock Me Baby (Arista, 1972)
With
Paulinho da Costa
Happy People (Pablo, 1979)
Sunrise (Pablo, 1984) – rec. 1982
Paulinho Da Costa (Columbia, 1984)
With
Randy Crawford
With
Andraé Crouch
Take Me Back (Light, 1975)
I'll Be Thinking of You (Elektra, 1979)
With
Four Tops
Keeper of the Castle (Dunhill, 1972)
Main Street People (Dunhill, 1973)
Meeting of the Minds (Dunhill, 1974)
With
Michael Franks
With
David Gates
With
Lani Hall
With
Albert Hammond
With
The Hues Corporation
With
John Klemmer
Touch (ABC, 1975)
Barefoot Ballet (ABC, 1976)
Hush (Elektra, 1981)
Music (MCA, 1989)
With
Bill LaBounty
The Right Direction (Noteworthy Records, 1991)
Back To Your Star (Chill Phill Records, 2009)
With
Henry Mancini
Music from the TV Series the Mancini Generation (RCA Victor, 1972)
Country Gentleman (RCA Victor, 1974)
With
Gap Mangione
Suite Lady (A&M, 1978)
Dancin' Is Makin' Love (A&M, 1979)
With
Megan McDonough
In the Megan Manner (RCA, 1972)
Megan Music (RCA, 1972)
Keepsake (RCA, 1973)
Sketches (RCA, 1974)
With
Joni Mitchell
With
Wayne Newton
Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast (Chelsea, 1972)
While We're Still Young (Chelsea, 1973)
With
Michael Omartian
White Horse (Dunhill, 1974)
Adam Again (Myrrh, 1977)
Mainstream (Sparrow, 1982)
With
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family Notebook (Bell, 1972)
Shopping Bag (Bell, 1972)
Bulletin Board (Bell, 1973)
Crossword Puzzle (Bell, 1973)
With
Michele Pillar
Look Who Loves You Now (Sparrow, 1984)
Love Makes All the Difference (Urgent, 1991)
I Hear Angels Calling (335 Records, 2006)
With
Johnny Rivers
L.A. Reggae (United Artists, 1972)
Blue Suede Shoes (United Artists, 1973)
New Lovers and Old Friends (Epic, 1975)
Wild Night (United Artists, 1976)
With
Leo Sayer
With
Tom Scott
Great Scott! (A&M, 1972)
Tom Scott and the L.A. Express (A&M, 1974)
With
James Lee Stanley
James Lee Stanley (RCA, 1973)
Three's the Charm (RCA, 1974)
With
Steely Dan
With
B. W. Stevenson
Lead Free (RCA, 1972)
My Maria (RCA, 1973)
Calabasas (RCA, 1974)
With
Barbra Streisand
With
Livingston Taylor
With others
The 5th Dimension , Living Together, Growing Together (Bell, 1973)
Alessi Brothers , Long Time Friends (Qwest, 1982)
Herb Alpert ,
Midnight Sun (A&M, 1992)
America ,
Harbor (Warner Bros., 1977)
Chet Atkins , Stay Tuned (Columbia, 1985)
Hoyt Axton , Fearless (A&M, 1976)
Anita Baker ,
Christmas Fantasy (Blue Note, 2005)
David Benoit , Letter to Evan (GRP, 1992)
Stephen Bishop ,
Careless (ABC, 1976)
Clint Black ,
Nothin' but the Taillights (RCA, 1997)
David Blue , Com'n Back for More (Asylum, 1975)
Terence Boylan , Suzy (Asylum, 1980)
The Brothers Johnson ,
Blam! (A&M Records, 1978)
Glen Campbell ,
Bloodline (Capitol, 1976)
Kim Carnes ,
Rest on Me (Amos, 1971)
Vikki Carr , Ms. America (Columbia, 1973)
Keith Carradine ,
I'm Easy (Asylum, 1976)
David Crosby ,
Oh Yes I Can (A&M, 1989)
Christopher Cross ,
Christopher Cross (Warner Bros., 1979)
Lisa Dal Bello ,
Lisa Dal Bello (MCA, 1977)
Patti Dahlstrom , The Way I Am (20th Century, 1973)
Eumir Deodato , Love Island (Warner Bros., 1978)
Neil Diamond , Jonathan Livingston Seagull (Columbia, 1973)
Cass Elliot ,
Cass Elliot (RCA Victor, 1972)
Don Ellis , Haiku (MPS, 1974)
Tommy Emmanuel , Can't Get Enough (Columbia, 1996)
Eye to Eye , Shakespeare Stole My Baby (Warner Bros., 1983)
Donald Fagen ,
The Nightfly (Warner Bros., 1982)
Peter Frampton , All Blues (Universal, 2019)
Peter Gabriel , Walk Through the Fire (Virgin, 1984)
Charly García ,
Clics modernos (Interdisc, 1983)
Jerry Garcia , Compliments of Garcia (Warner Bros., 1974)
Art Garfunkel ,
Angel Clare (Columbia, 1973)
Lesley Gore , Love Me By Name (A&M Records, 1976)
Marjoe Gortner , Bad, but Not Evil (Chelsea, 1972)
Carolyn Hester , Carolyn Hester (RCA Victor, 1973)
Thelma Houston ,
I've Got the Music in Me (Sheffield, 1975)
James Ingram ,
It's Your Night (Qwest, 1983)
Chuck Jackson , Through All Times (ABC, 1973)
Michael Jackson ,
Off the Wall (Epic, 1979)
Etta James ,
Deep in the Night (Warner Bros., 1978)
Al Jarreau ,
Glow (Reprise, 1976)
Billy Joel ,
Piano Man (Columbia, 1973)
Booker T. Jones , The Runaway (MCA, 1989)
Marc Jordan , Mannequin Vivid Sound, (Warner Bros., 1978)
The Keane Brothers , The Keane Brothers (20th Century Records, 1977)
Abraham Laboriel , Dear Friends (Bluemoon, 1993)
James Last , Well Kept Secret (Polydor, 1975)
Peggy Lee ,
Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota (Capitol, 1972)
John Lennon ,
Rock 'n' Roll (Apple, 1975)
Lori Lieberman , A Piece of Time (Capitol, 1974)
Jeff Lorber , Private Passion (Warner Bros., 1986)
Elliot Lurie , Elliot Lurie (Epic, 1975)
Chuck Mangione , 70 Miles Young (A&M, 1982)
Ray Manzarek , The Golden Scarab (Mercury, 1974)
Johnny Mathis , A Special Part of Me (Columbia, 1984)
Michael McDonald ,
Motown (Motown, 2003)
Lonette McKee , Lonette (Sussex, 1974)
Carmen McRae , Can't Hide Love (Blue Note, 1976)
Anne Murray ,
Together (Capitol Records, 1975)
Teruo Nakamura , Super Friends (Eastworld, 1985)
Aaron Neville ,
Warm Your Heart (A&M, 1991)
Olivia Newton-John ,
Soul Kiss (MCA Records, 1985)
Dolly Parton ,
9 to 5 and Odd Jobs (RCA Victor, 1980)
Mike Post , Television Theme Songs (Elektra, 1982)
Boots Randolph , Boots with Brass (Monument, 1970)
Lou Rawls , She's Gone (Bell, 1974)
Gene Redding , Blood Brother Haven (Capitol, 1974)
Helen Reddy ,
Helen Reddy (Capitol Records, 1971)
The Righteous Brothers , Give It to the People (Capitol, 1974)
Minnie Riperton ,
Adventures in Paradise (Epic, 1975)
Austin Roberts , The Last Thing On My Mind (Chelsea, 1973)
Linda Ronstadt ,
Don't Cry Now (Asylum, 1973)
Diana Ross ,
Ross (RCA Victor, 1983)
Buffy Sainte-Marie ,
Sweet America (ABC, 1976)
Joey Scarbury ,
America's Greatest Hero (Elektra, 1981)
Diane Schuur , The Gathering (Vanguard, 2011)
Seals and Crofts ,
Get Closer (Warner Bros., 1976)
Marlena Shaw ,
Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? (Blue Note, 1975)
Ben Sidran , The Doctor Is in (Arista, 1977)
Dan Siegel , Dan Siegel (Elektra, 1982)
Sonny & Cher ,
Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs (MCA, 1973)
Dusty Springfield ,
Cameo (Dunhill, 1973)
Jim Stafford , Not Just Another Pretty Foot (MGM, 1975)
John Stewart ,
Sunstorm (Warner Bros., 1972)
Tavares ,
Hard Core Poetry (Capitol, 1974)
Cal Tjader , Last Bolero in Berkeley (Fantasy, 1973)
Allen Toussaint , Motion (Warner Bros., 1978)
Valdy , Landscapes (Hayda, 1973)
Frankie Valli ,
Closeup (Private Stock, 1975)
Townes Van Zandt ,
High, Low and in Between (Poppy, 1971)
T-Bone Walker , Very Rare (Reprise, 1973)
Dionne Warwick ,
Friends in Love (Arista Records, 1982)
Tim Weisberg , Hurtwood Edge (A&M, 1972)
Kirk Whalum , The Promise (Columbia, 1989)
Vanessa Williams ,
The Sweetest Days (Mercury, 1994)
Andy Williams , Andy (Columbia, 1976)
Lorna Wright, Circle of Love (Rocket Records, 1978)
Video
1987 Larry Carlton Live
1988
Scrooged
1989 Star Licks Larry Carlton
1992 Star Licks Larry Carlton Vol. 2
1997 Larry Carlton Live at Montreal International Jazz Festival
2002 Ohne Filter (inakustik)
2002 Live at Montreal Jazz Festival (Eagle)
2004 Larry Carlton Recorded Live in Paris
2005 Carlton/Lukather Band – The Paris Concert (inakustik)
2007 Larry Carlton with Robben Ford Live in Osaka (335) - bonus DVD with CD Larry Carlton with Robben Ford Live in Tokyo
2008 Carlton, Ford + Autour Du Blues – The Paris Concert (inakustik)
2008 Carlton and the Sapphire Blues Band – The Paris Concert (inakustik)
2009 Carlton Trio – The Paris Concert (inakustik)
2004 Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival
References
^
a
b
c
d
e
Colin Larkin , ed. (1992).
The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.).
Guinness Publishing . p. 417.
ISBN
0-85112-939-0 .
^
a
b
c
d
e Skelly, Richard.
"Larry Carlton" . AllMusic . Retrieved December 1, 2016 .
^
"Top Adult Contemporary Songs of 1981 ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts" . Musicvf.com .
^
"The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs" .
Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2017 . {{
cite magazine }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link ) . Retrieved 2011-01-25.
^ Gress, Jesse (September 1, 2009).
"10 Things You Gotta Do To Play Like Larry Carlton" . Guitar Player . Retrieved December 2, 2016 .
^ Heim, Chris (June 30, 1989).
"Guitarist Larry Carlton Puts Tragic Shooting Behind Him" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 2, 2016 .
^
"The Jazz King Credits" .
AllMusic . Retrieved December 2, 2016 .
^
a
b Heidt, John (May 2001).
"Larry Carlton: The Return of Mr. 335" .
Vintage Guitar . Retrieved December 20, 2011 .
^ Bolinger, John (July 2014).
"Rig Rundown: Larry Carlton" . Premier Guitar . Retrieved July 14, 2014 .
^
"Travis Carlton" . Musicians Institute .
External links
International National Artists