Larry Carlton

Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948) is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and '80s for acts such as Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. He has participated in thousands of recording sessions, recorded on hundreds of albums in many genres, for television and movies, and on more than 100 gold records. He has been a member of the jazz fusion group the Crusaders, the smooth jazz band Fourplay, and has maintained a long solo career.[1]

For other people named Larry Carlton, see Larry Carlton (disambiguation).

Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton in Ithaca, New York, 1987
Background information
Birth nameLarry Eugene Carlton
Born (1948-03-02) March 2, 1948
Torrance, California, U.S.
GenresJazz fusion, rock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1962–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitewww.larrycarlton.com

Music career

Session work

Carlton was born in Torrance, California in 1948 and at the age of six began guitar lessons. His interest in jazz came from hearing guitarist Joe Pass on the radio. From Pass 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.[1]

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. Carlton appeared on 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".[2] In 1982, he appeared on The Nightfly by Donald Fagen, lead singer for Steely Dan.[1]

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.[3]

Solo career

Carlton recorded his debut solo album, With a Little Help from My Friends, in 1968. In the mid-'70s 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, which delayed completion of the album he was working on at the time, On Solid Ground.[1][4] His left arm was paralyzed and for six months he was unable to play more than a few notes.[5]

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.

Carlton was commissioned to compose music for the king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, in honor of the king's birthday.[1] He recorded The Jazz King (Sony BMG, 2008) with a jazz orchestra that included Tom Scott, Nathan East, and Earl Klugh.[6]

Awards and honors

Notable instruments

Carlton is best known for his 1969 Gibson ES-335.[7] Other guitars he owns and plays include a 1951 Fender Telecaster, a 1964 Fender Stratocaster, and a 1955 Gibson Les Paul Special.[8] He has used a Fender Vibrolux amplifier, but his standard setup included a Dumble.[7] Later in his career, a Bludotone Overtone Special has been utilized in replacement of the Dumble in certain situations (relating to travel logistics; the tone is remarkably similar to his Dumbles). In 2020, he partnered with Sire Revolution creating signature electric and acoustic guitars.

Personal life

Carlton married contemporary Christian music artist Michele Pillar in 1987; they divorced in 2013. He is the father of Katie Carlton and bass player Travis Carlton.

Discography

As leader
  • With a Little Help from My Friends (UNI, 1968)
  • Singing/Playing (Blue Thumb, 1973)
  • Larry Carlton (Warner Bros., 1978)
  • Mr. 335 Live in Japan (Warner Bros., 1979)
  • Strikes Twice (Warner Bros., 1980)
  • Sleepwalk (Warner Bros., 1982)
  • Eight Times Up (Warner Bros., 1982)
  • Friends (Warner Bros., 1983)
  • Alone / But Never Alone (MCA, 1986)
  • All Strings Attached (Verve, 1987)
  • Discovery (MCA, 1987)
  • Last Nite (MCA, 1986)
  • Christmas at My House (MCA, 1989)
  • On Solid Ground (MCA, 1989)
  • Kid Gloves (GRP, 1992)
  • Renegade Gentleman (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)
  • No Substitutions: Live in Osaka with Steve Lukather (Favored Nations, 2001)
  • Deep Into It (Warner Bros., 2001)
  • Sapphire Blue (Bluebird, 2003)
  • Fire Wire (Bluebird, 2006)
  • Live in Tokyo with Robben Ford (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 Vol. One (335, 2012)
  • Unplugged with Robben Ford (335, 2013)
  • @ Billboard Live Tokyo (335, 2015)
  • At Blue Note Tokyo with Steve Lukather (335, 2016)
  • Lights On (335, 2017)

With the Crusaders

  • Crusaders 1 (Blue Thumb, 1972)
  • Unsung Heroes (Blue Thumb, 1973)
  • The 2nd Crusade (Blue Thumb, 1973)
  • Southern Comfort (Blue Thumb, 1974)
  • Scratch (Blue Thumb, 1974)
  • Chain Reaction (ABC Blue Thumb, 1975)
  • Those Southern Knights (ABC Blue Thumb, 1976)
  • Free as the Wind (ABC 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)
  • Silver (Heads Up, 2015)
  • Energy (Heads Up, 2008)

As sideman

With Paul Anka

  • The Painter (Liberty, 1976)
  • The Music Man (United Artists, 1977)
  • Headlines (RCA Victor, 1979)

With Joan Baez

  • Diamonds & Rust (A&M, 1975)
  • From Every Stage (A&M, 1976)
  • Speaking of Dreams (Guardian, 1989)

With Paulinho da Costa

  • Happy People (Pablo, 1979)
  • Paulinho Da Costa (CBS, 1984)
  • Sunrise (Pablo, 1984)

With Four Tops

  • Main Street People (ABC Dunhill 1973)
  • Keeper of the Castle (Dunhill 1972)
  • Meeting of the Minds (Dunhill 1974)

With Michael Franks

  • The Art of Tea (Reprise, 1975)
  • Sleeping Gypsy (Warner Bros., 1977)
  • Objects of Desire (Warner Bros., 1982)
  • Blue Pacific (Reprise, 1990)

With Lani Hall

  • Sun Down Lady (A&M, 1972)
  • Hello It's Me (A&M, 1974)
  • Sweet Bird (A&M, 1976)

With Albert Hammond

  • Albert Hammond (Mums, 1974)
  • It Never Rains in Southern California (Epic, 1972)
  • The Free Electric Band (Mums, 1973)

With John Klemmer

  • Touch (ABC, 1975)
  • Barefoot Ballet (ABC, 1976)
  • Hush (Elektra, 1981)
  • Music (MCA, 1989)

With Joni Mitchell

With Megan McDonough

  • In the Megan Manner (Wooden Nickel, 1972)
  • Megan Music (RCA Victor, 1972)
  • Keepsake (Wooden Nickel, 1973)
  • Sketches (Wooden Nickel, 1974)

With Maxine Nightingale

  • Night Life (United Artists, 1977)
  • Lead Me On (Windsong, 1978)
  • Love Lines (United Artists, 1978)

With Michael Omartian

  • White Horse (ABC 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, 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 Steely Dan

With Barbra Streisand

  • Stoney End (Columbia, 1971)
  • Butterfly (Columbia, 1974)
  • Lazy Afternoon (CBS, 1975)
  • Streisand Superman (Columbia, 1977)
  • Songbird (Columbia, 1978)
  • Wet (CBS, 1979)

With others

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
  1. Skelly, Richard. "Larry Carlton". AllMusic. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  2. "Top Adult Contemporary Songs of 1981 ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com.
  3. "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs". Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  4. Gress, Jesse (September 1, 2009). "10 Things You Gotta Do To Play Like Larry Carlton". Guitar Player. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  5. Heim, Chris (June 30, 1989). "Guitarist Larry Carlton Puts Tragic Shooting Behind Him". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  6. "The Jazz King Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  7. Heidt, John (May 2001). "Larry Carlton: The Return of Mr. 335". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  8. Bolinger, John (July 2014). "Rig Rundown: Larry Carlton". Premier Guitar. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
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