Laurence Juber
is an English-born guitarist living in California. Born 12 November 1952 in Stepney, East London, he was raised and went to school in North London. Often considered most famous for playing lead guitar in Wings from 1979 to 1981, he has since had a distinguished career as a solo fingerstyle guitarist.
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LAURENCE JUBER TICKETS
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Biography
By his own account, Juber began playing guitar the week that "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by
The Beatles was released.
[1] Beginning on a cheap acoustic guitar, he learned to read music early, figuring out the system of music notation for himself. He began to earn money playing the guitar at 13, and began to study classical guitar at the age of 15. Enraptured by the sounds on records of the mid- to late-60's, he set his sights on becoming a
session guitarist in London's music studios. He earned his music degree London University (
Goldsmith College) where he expanded his horizons playing the
lute. Upon graduation, he immediately began work as a session guitarist, working on his first project with producer
George Martin on an album for
Cleo Laine.
Juber gave up a lucrative and highly successful studio career when invited to join Paul McCartney and Wings. He played on recordings that were to become
Back to the Egg
, as well as the subsequent tour. From these sessions he garnered his first
Grammy Award, winning Best Rock Instrumental for the track "Rockestra" from
Back to the Egg
. He was miscredited as Lawrence Tuber on the album sleeve.
When Wings disbanded, Juber moved to the United States of America. In New York City he met his future wife, Hope, and soon moved to her native California. He subsequently resumed work as a studio musician and played guitar for numerous television shows, including
Happy Days
and
Family Ties
, and for movies, perhaps most famously playing the
James Bond theme for the movie
The Spy Who Loved Me
.
In 1990, he released his first solo album,
Solo Flight
. During the next decade he would begin to explore altered tunings. In 2000, Juber released the solo album
LJ plays the Beatles
and
The Collection
and in 2003 the album
Guitarist
was released to critical acclaim. Juber's credentials as a top-tier fingerstyle guitarist continue to grow. Having been voted "Guitarist of the Year" by readers of Fingerstyle Guitar magazine as well as one of the top acoustic players of all time by Acoustic Guitar magazine, Juber is an ambassador for his instrument as well as his own music. He has released 13 critically acclaimed CD's to date, and has earned a second
Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental for his solo guitar arrangement of "
The Pink Panther Theme" on the CD
Henry Mancini - Pink Guitar
. Juber has also released a series of instructional CD's that teach basic music theory and arrangement techniques for guitarists.
In addition to his own recording and performances, Laurence Juber has produced and played on
Al Stewart's albums
Between the Wars
(1995),
Down in the Cellar
(2000),
A Beach Full of Shells
(2005) and
Sparks of Ancient Light
(2008).
Discography
- 1990: Solo Flight
- 1993: Naked Guitar
- 1995: LJ
(Remastered and reissued in 2002)
- 1997: Winter Guitar
- 1997: Groovemasters
- 1998: Mosaic
- 1999: Altered Reality
- 2000: LJ Plays the Beatles
- 2000: The Collection
- 2001: Different Times
- 2003: Guitarist
- 2004: Pink Guitar
(2005 Grammy Award-winning compilation of Henry Mancini songs, compilation)
- 2005: One Wing
- 2006: I've Got the World On Six Strings
- 2007: PCH
- 2008: Pop Goes Guitar
References
- Lawrence, Robb. (2008). "The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy 1915-1963". Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 0-6340-4861-9.