Larry Carlton: The Master of Studio and Jazz Guitar
Larry Carlton is an American guitarist whose legendary session work and acclaimed solo career have defined the sound of smooth jazz and pop for decades. Hailing from Torrance, California, his prolific output includes four Grammy Awards and a signature guitar tone heard on hundreds of recordings that have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide.
Early career
Born in 1948, Larry Carlton began playing guitar as a child and was deeply influenced by jazz greats like Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass. His professional career started in the late 1960s, with early session credits on albums by pop and rock acts, quickly establishing his reputation for versatile and melodic playing in Los Angeles studios.
Breakthrough
Carlton's major breakthrough came through his work as a core member of the legendary studio group The Crusaders from 1971 to 1976, where his guitar became a central part of their jazz-funk sound. His simultaneous rise as a first-call session ace peaked with his iconic solos on Steely Dan's 1976 album The Royal Scam, notably on the track "Kid Charlemagne," which cemented his status among musicians and serious listeners.
Key tracks
Kid Charlemagne — His fiery, melodic solo on this Steely Dan track is frequently cited as one of the greatest guitar solos in rock history.
Room 335 — This instrumental from his 1978 solo album became a smooth jazz radio staple and showcases his warm, signature tone.
Smiles and Smiles to Go — The title track from his 1978 album demonstrated his skill as a leading composer in the jazz fusion genre.
Minute by Minute — Carlton contributed the memorable guitar solo to this 1978 number-one hit by The Doobie Brothers.
All in Good Time — This track from his 1988 GRP album On Solid Ground exemplifies his polished, contemporary jazz sound from that era.
In the 1980s, Carlton launched a highly successful solo career on the MCA and GRP record labels, with albums like Sleepwalk (1982) and the Grammy-winning Alone/But Never Alone (1986). A traumatic shooting in 1988 temporarily halted his career, but he made a resilient comeback, later forming the instrumental supergroup Fourplay with Bob James, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason in 1991.
His later work includes a series of collaborative albums and solo projects, earning additional Grammys for tracks like "The Naked Guitar" (2001). Carlton's influence extends beyond recordings, as he helped design the iconic Gibson ES-335 guitar model that bears his name, the Larry Carlton Model.
Fans of Larry Carlton's blend of technical mastery and melodic sensibility often appreciate the work of similar artists. Lee Ritenour is another prolific session guitarist who transitioned into a successful solo smooth jazz career. Fourplay is the group he co-founded, continuing his legacy of polished contemporary jazz. Steely Dan features much of his most celebrated session work from the 1970s. Robben Ford shares a similar background in blues-inflected jazz guitar with a history of prestigious collaborations.
Larry Carlton's extensive catalog ensures his music remains in regular rotation on dedicated smooth jazz FM stations, classic rock formats highlighting his session era, and specialized online guitar music streams. His timeless instrumental compositions and iconic guest solos are fixtures on playlists that celebrate masterful musicianship.
Listeners can discover the sophisticated guitar work of Larry Carlton by tuning into the radio stations featured on onairium.com, where his classic hits and deep cuts are regularly broadcast for fans of jazz and refined instrumental music.
