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Gregg Karukas

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Gregg Karukas
Java Jazz Festival 2008
Java Jazz Festival 2008
Background information
OriginWashington, D.C.
GenresSmooth jazz, world music
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards
Years active1975–present
LabelsN-Coded, Nightowl
Websitekarukas.com

Gregg Karukas (born 1956) is a smooth jazz pianist from Bowie, Maryland who first gained notice in Washington, D.C., then moved to Los Angeles in 1982. He backed Melissa Manchester before he co-founded the Rippingtons in 1986.[1]

He experimented with drums, guitar, trumpet, and keyboards as a child, but it was not until his teens that he pursued music professionally as a pianist, having played with the Bowie High School Starliners big band.[2] When he was sixteen, he owned one of the first Minimoog synthesizers.

Karukas spent five years with Tim Eyermann in the band East Coast Offering. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked with Shelby Flint, David Benoit, Richard Elliot, Grant Geissman, Dave Koz, Ronnie Laws, and Melissa Manchester.[1] He was a member of the Rippingtons when they recorded their first album, Moonlighting, in November 1985.[3] He has worked as a sideman with Larry Carlton, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, Rick Braun, Brenda Russell, Craig Chaquico, Boney James, and Peter White.[1]

Karukas has received multiple Best Keyboardist nominations at the Oasis and National Smooth Jazz Awards. He has collaborated with Brazilian composer Dori Caymmi and Ricardo Silveira. He produced, arranged, engineered, and co-wrote two albums with Omar Akram, whose Echoes of Love won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2013.[2]

He owns and distributes most of his music on his label, Nightowl Records .

Studio albums

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Title Year Label
The Night Owl 1987 Nightowl
Key Witness 1990 Nightowl
Sound of Emotion 1992 Nightowl
Summerhouse 1993 Nightowl
Home for the Holidays 1993 Fahrenheit/Nightowl
You'll Know It's Me 1995 Nightowl
Blue Touch 1998 i.e./Polygram
Nightshift 2000 N2K
Heatwave 2002 N-Coded/Warlock
Looking Up 2005 Nightowl
GK 2009 Nightowl
Soul Secrets 2014 Nightowl
Serenata 2021 Nightowl

References

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  1. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott. "Gregg Karukas". AllMusic. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Jaskot, Colleen (February 27, 2013). "Grammy winner Gregg Karukas returns for DC show". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  3. ^ Widran, Jonathan. "Moonlighting". AllMusic. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
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