Like so many other Los Angeles studio musicians, guitarist and composer Lar… Read Full Bio ↴Like so many other Los Angeles studio musicians, guitarist and composer Larry Carlton was faced with a choice a number of years back: whether to go solo and develop a name for himself under his own name or to continue the less risky, more lucrative existence as a session guitarist, making good money and recording with prominent musicians. Fortunately for fans of this eclectic guitarist, he chose the former, and has recorded under his own name for Warner Bros., MCA Records and GRP Records since 1978.
Carlton's studio credits from the 1970s and early '80s include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. Among his more notable projects as a session guitarist were Joni Mitchell's critically acclaimed Court and Spark and Hejira albums, Steely Dan's The Royal Scam album, and Donald Fagen's Nightfly album. For much of the 1970s, Carlton was active as a session guitarist, recording on up to 500 albums a year. Although he recorded a number of LPs under his own name as early as 1968's With a Little Help from My Friends (Uni), and 1973's Singing/Playing, he didn't land a major-label contract until 1978, when he signed with Warner Bros.
Carlton began taking guitar lessons when he was six. His first professional gig was at a supper club in 1962. After hearing Joe Pass on the radio, he was inspired to play jazz and blues. Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel became important influences soon after he discovered the jazz guitar stylings of Pass. B.B. King and other blues guitarists had an impact on Carlton's style as well. He honed his guitar-playing skills in the clubs and studios of greater Los Angeles. He attended a local junior college and Long Beach State College for a year until the Vietnam War ended. Carlton toured with the Fifth Dimension in 1968 and began doing studio sessions in 1970. His early session work included studio dates with pop musicians like Vicki Carr, Andy Williams and the Partridge Family. In 1971, he was asked to join the Crusaders shortly after they'd decided to drop the word "Jazz'' from their name, and he remained with the group until 1976. In between tours with the Crusaders, he also did studio session work for hundreds of recordings in every genre. But it was while he with the Crusaders that he developed the highly rhythmic, often bluesy style he has now. His credits include performing on more than 100 gold albums. His theme music credits for TV and films include Against All Odds, Who's the Boss, and the theme for Hill Street Blues. The latter won a Grammy award in 1981 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Carlton delivered his self-titled debut for Warner Bros. in 1978, shortly after he was recognized for his ground-breaking guitar playing on Steely Dan's Royal Scam album. (Carlton contributed the memorable guitar solo on "Kid Charlemagne", and the opening to "Don't Take Me Alive.") He released four more albums for Warner Bros., Strikes Twice (1980), Sleepwalk (1981), Eight Times Up (1982), and the Grammy-nominated Friends (1983), before being dropped from the label.
He continued studio session work and touring in between, emerging again in 1986 on MCA Records with an all-acoustic album, Discovery, which contained an instrumental remake of Michael McDonald's hit, "Minute by Minute." The single won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1987. Carlton's live album, Last Nite, released in 1987, got him a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance.
While working on his next album for MCA, On Solid Ground, Carlton was the victim of random gun violence, and was shot in the throat by gun-wielding juveniles outside Room 335, his private studio near Burbank, California. The bullet shattered his vocal cord and caused significant nerve trauma, but through intensive therapy and a positive frame of mind, Carlton completed work on On Solid Ground in 1989. Carlton formed Helping Innnocent People (HIP), a non-profit group to aid victims of random gun violence.
Carlton's most recent albums include two releases in 1996 for GRP Records, Gift and With a Little Help from My Friends. His other recordings include 1990's Collection and 1992's Kid Gloves for the same label, Playing/Singing (1995, Edsel), and Renegade Gentleman, a 1993 release for GRP.
Despite the tragedy that was foisted on him in the late '80s, dragging him through a long and dark period of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Carlton's output over the years has been steady through the 1980s and 1990s. Carlton seems to have slowed down his touring schedule a bit, but certainly not his recording schedule. Always happy to meet with the press, Carlton has a sweet, peaceful personality, and one can hear it in his unique, rhythmic, warm guitar chords and ringing guitar tones.
Larry Carlton's niece is pop singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton.
Carlton's studio credits from the 1970s and early '80s include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. Among his more notable projects as a session guitarist were Joni Mitchell's critically acclaimed Court and Spark and Hejira albums, Steely Dan's The Royal Scam album, and Donald Fagen's Nightfly album. For much of the 1970s, Carlton was active as a session guitarist, recording on up to 500 albums a year. Although he recorded a number of LPs under his own name as early as 1968's With a Little Help from My Friends (Uni), and 1973's Singing/Playing, he didn't land a major-label contract until 1978, when he signed with Warner Bros.
Carlton began taking guitar lessons when he was six. His first professional gig was at a supper club in 1962. After hearing Joe Pass on the radio, he was inspired to play jazz and blues. Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel became important influences soon after he discovered the jazz guitar stylings of Pass. B.B. King and other blues guitarists had an impact on Carlton's style as well. He honed his guitar-playing skills in the clubs and studios of greater Los Angeles. He attended a local junior college and Long Beach State College for a year until the Vietnam War ended. Carlton toured with the Fifth Dimension in 1968 and began doing studio sessions in 1970. His early session work included studio dates with pop musicians like Vicki Carr, Andy Williams and the Partridge Family. In 1971, he was asked to join the Crusaders shortly after they'd decided to drop the word "Jazz'' from their name, and he remained with the group until 1976. In between tours with the Crusaders, he also did studio session work for hundreds of recordings in every genre. But it was while he with the Crusaders that he developed the highly rhythmic, often bluesy style he has now. His credits include performing on more than 100 gold albums. His theme music credits for TV and films include Against All Odds, Who's the Boss, and the theme for Hill Street Blues. The latter won a Grammy award in 1981 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Carlton delivered his self-titled debut for Warner Bros. in 1978, shortly after he was recognized for his ground-breaking guitar playing on Steely Dan's Royal Scam album. (Carlton contributed the memorable guitar solo on "Kid Charlemagne", and the opening to "Don't Take Me Alive.") He released four more albums for Warner Bros., Strikes Twice (1980), Sleepwalk (1981), Eight Times Up (1982), and the Grammy-nominated Friends (1983), before being dropped from the label.
He continued studio session work and touring in between, emerging again in 1986 on MCA Records with an all-acoustic album, Discovery, which contained an instrumental remake of Michael McDonald's hit, "Minute by Minute." The single won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1987. Carlton's live album, Last Nite, released in 1987, got him a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance.
While working on his next album for MCA, On Solid Ground, Carlton was the victim of random gun violence, and was shot in the throat by gun-wielding juveniles outside Room 335, his private studio near Burbank, California. The bullet shattered his vocal cord and caused significant nerve trauma, but through intensive therapy and a positive frame of mind, Carlton completed work on On Solid Ground in 1989. Carlton formed Helping Innnocent People (HIP), a non-profit group to aid victims of random gun violence.
Carlton's most recent albums include two releases in 1996 for GRP Records, Gift and With a Little Help from My Friends. His other recordings include 1990's Collection and 1992's Kid Gloves for the same label, Playing/Singing (1995, Edsel), and Renegade Gentleman, a 1993 release for GRP.
Despite the tragedy that was foisted on him in the late '80s, dragging him through a long and dark period of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Carlton's output over the years has been steady through the 1980s and 1990s. Carlton seems to have slowed down his touring schedule a bit, but certainly not his recording schedule. Always happy to meet with the press, Carlton has a sweet, peaceful personality, and one can hear it in his unique, rhythmic, warm guitar chords and ringing guitar tones.
Larry Carlton's niece is pop singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton.
Only Yesterday
Larry Carlton Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Only Yesterday' by these artists:
Carpenters After long enough of being alone Everyone must face their sh…
Carpenters The Carpenters After long enough of being alone Everyone must face their sh…
Circle II Circle Who would've thought That things could change so fast Who …
Gene Watson Fancy meeting you here I guess I always knew there'd Come a…
grooploop After long enough of being alone Everyone must face Their sh…
Isla Grant where have the years gone? my how thet have flown. the kids…
Jake Tavill Sent My Love Away Only Yesterday Sent My Love Away There …
Jenny Sinclair After long enough of being alone Everyone must face their s…
Johan Colli Oh, did you (or did i) say something? In my head…
Nat King Cole Only yesterday I loved you And you said that you loved…
Taken by Trees Oh honey, I really miss you Oh honey, though it was…
The Carpenters After long enough of being alone Everyone must face their s…
The Carpenters Carpenters After long enough of being alone Everyone must face their sh…
The Lovin' Spoonful It was only yesterday we were laughing, Children passing A…
Thelma Jones I love you more than yesterday I love you more than…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Larry Carlton:
'til I Hurt You Yazarken sema karanlık ruhum icin sanat yok El kalemde mumla…
03 Minute By Minute Hey, don't worry, I've been lied to I've been here many…
Ain't Nothin' For A Heartache It seems I've found myself a hopeless situation Cause I stil…
Chicks With Kickstands ... I′ve got fire for a heart I'm not scared of the…
Cold Day in Hell How many times You looked in my eyes With a smiling face …
Don't Break My Heart You shoot me down in flames You put me down a…
I Apologize Just as the sun is setting in the sky I get…
I Can't Tell You Why Look at us baby, up all night Tearing our love apart Aren'…
I Put a Spell on You I put a spell on you because you're mine You better…
I Still Believe Baby you know, I'll never let you go, no way When…
In My Blood Somebody stop the motion Cause my state of mind Someone dr…
Just My Imagination Each day through my window I watch her as she…
Knock On Wood I don't want to lose the good thing that I've…
Layla What'll you do when you get lonely And nobody's waiting by…
Minute By Minute Hey, don't worry, I've been lied to I've been here many…
Roll With It When life is too much, roll with it, baby Don't stop…
Tequila I was at the bar with my drinkin team, It was…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
The Little Drummer Boy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
The Magician Darlin' you, you seem so distracted Something in your eyes …
Things We Said Today You say you will love me If I have to go. You'll…
Where Did You Come From Hearing your voice I hear a sound Simply takes my breath…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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pretorious700
Not hard to play those notes. The incredible feeling is another story.
M CK
@ernieball20 ,
I have heard other players nail all these notes exactly-But no one has ever been able to recreate this amazing singing tone-Ever!
ernieball20
Yeah! Hell yeah!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍 makes me crying all the time..
tiffsaver
TRUE, TRUE.
M CK
The only guitar instrumental that ever brought tears to my eyes! Larry is indeed, ' Mr. 335 '!
Tashee
How have I never heard this until now? ❤️
luminositymusic BrianPRickard
J C what! Better late than never. Just Wow!
tiffsaver
Don't feel bad, brother. I just discovered this amazing tune LAST WEEK, while watching "In Memoriam" posted by Guillermo Paz... it kicks in at the two minute mark. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW2ZrRTEjXo
Andrea Ritchie
He's magnificent. You can hear him all over the Steely Dan album, The Royal Scam. He's still doing new stuff that's phenomenal!
Carlos Sánchez
I love this song