Larry Coryell

Larry Coryell was born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III on April 2, 1943, in Galveston, Texas. His mother introduced him to piano at age four in Seattle, Washington, where the family had relocated. Coryell switched to guitar during his teenage years and played rock music in local bands while absorbing influences from Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane, Kenny Burrell, and Johnny Smith. He studied journalism at the University of Washington and took private guitar lessons before moving to New York City in 1965 at age 22. There he enrolled at Mannes School of Music to pursue classical guitar training. In September 1965, Coryell replaced Gábor Szabó in Chico Hamilton’s quintet. His recording debut came on Hamilton’s 1967 album The Dealer, a soul-jazz release that showcased his hard-edged, rock-influenced tone.

Coryell’s early solo work defined the emerging jazz-rock fusion sound of the late 1960s. His leadership albums Lady Coryell (1968) and Coryell (1969) integrated rock and folk elements with jazz harmony. In 1970 he collaborated with John McLaughlin, Miroslav Vitous, Chick Corea, and Billy Cobham on the album Spaces, which established the template for electric guitar fusion playing. Between 1968 and 1972, Coryell recorded extensively for Vanguard Records, releasing Barefoot Boy (1971) and At the Village Gate (1971). These albums demonstrated his range across free jazz exploration and structured fusion compositions. He formed The Eleventh House in 1972, a hard-edged fusion band featuring drummer Alphonse Mouzon, keyboardist Mike Mandel, and trumpeter Randy Brecker. Their 1974 debut Introducing the Eleventh House with Larry Coryell established the group, though commercial success remained modest compared to Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever.

By the mid-1970s, Coryell turned toward acoustic guitar and recorded duets with Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine on Twin-House (1977). He collaborated with classical composers and contemporary jazz figures including Kazuhito Yamashita and Biréli Lagrène. In 1983, he recorded a complete interpretation of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, a project that required months of intensive preparation. Coryell also composed original works based on literary classics by Leo Tolstoy and James Joyce. After recovering from heroin and alcohol addiction in 1981, he embraced Nichiren Buddhism, which shaped his musical philosophy. Coryell remained active as a touring and recording artist until his death on February 19, 2017, in New York City. He died peacefully in his sleep at age 73 while preparing a reformed Eleventh House tour. His final studio album, Barefoot Man: Sanpaku, was released months before his passing.