Kenny Burrell

After 40 years as a jazz professional, appearing on several hundred albums as leader and sideman, Kenny Burrell is among the handful of guitar greats who have forever changed the role of their instrument. Born in Detroit, Kenny received a B.A. in music composition and theory in 1955. At present he teaches at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He is founder and director of the Jazz Studies Program at UCLA where he is a professor of music and Ethnomusicology.

Kenny is the composer of the 1998 Grammy Award winning song "Dear Ella", performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater. His compositions have been recorded by Ray Brown, Jimmy Smith, Grover Washington Jr.. John Coltrane, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and many others. Kenny played on his first major recording session in Detroit in 1951 with a Dizzy Gillespie combo that included John Coltrane, Milt Jackson, and Percy Heath.

In 1955 he toured with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Kenny has received many awards including a Doctorate of Human Letters, and the 1997 Ellington Fellowship awarded by Yale University.

Some quotes of fellow musicians on Kenny Burrell include:

 "Kenny Burrell is overall the greatest guitarist in the world and he's my favorite"
B.B. King

"Kenny Burrell that's the sound I'm looking for."
Jimi Hendrix

"Kenny Burrell is a great musician and his music has helped to make me what I am today."
Stevie Wonder