Best known for his signature Gibson 335 guitar and his supreme technique, Larry Carlton sees no drawing a line between genres. He draws on his varied musical roots including jazz, rock, country, and new age, marking him as one of the most respected guitarists for over thirty years.

Born March 2, 1948, in Torrance, California, Larry Eugene Carlton took up a guitar at the age of six and began playing as professional at a local supper eight years later. As with other jazz guitarists at that time, Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel were among his earliest influences. Carlton also listened to B.B. King until he could play his idols' parts note for note. Rapidly developing his guitar skill, Carlton began to get calls to play for the Fifth Dimension in late '60s.

In 1968, he made his first session recording as a leader, 'With A Little Help From My Friends'. Already a popular session musician, Carlton began playing his trademark Gibson 335 guitar at the time. He then joined Crusaders, which had just been shortened from "Jazz Crusaders", and it was not until 1976 that he launched a solo career for real.

While performing on hundreds of albums by such celebrities as Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert, Steely Dan, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joni Mitchel, Carlton released solo albums, 'Singing & Playing' (1973), 'Strike Twice' (1980), 'Sleep Walk' (1981) and 'Friends' (1983), propelling him to his legitimate place as the premier jazz/fusion guitarist.

He moved to MCA Records in 1986 and released an all-acoustic album, 'Discovery'. The album featured a remake of Michael Mcdonald's 'Minute By Minute', best known for Doobie Brothers' take, which earned Carlton his second Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. While working on the next album, 'On Solid Ground', he was shot in the neck by an intruder at his studio. Despite a serious injury, he made a full recovery and finished the album three years later.

He signed with his current home, GRP Records in 1991, and his collaboration with labelmate and fellow guitar giant, Lee Ritenour, 'Larry & Lee' (1995) was a most welcome for jazz fans. He also joined hands with rock guitar hero Steve Lukather on 'No Substitutions: Live In Osaka'. He took the place of Ritenour, who left the supergroup Fourplay, and released the group's latest and BMG debut, 'Heartfelt' in 2002.

Larry Carlton is a rare artist who grew up in the rock-dominated era and succeeded in creating his own jazz-influenced sound. His experience as a session musician helped forming his sensuous, yet well-constructed guitar performance.