Vaughn A. Klugh graduated from Berklee College in 1976. He became active in jazz performance internationally while living in Japan from 1983-95. Vaughn is the first cousin of Earl Klugh, and he is a master musician in his own right recognized all over the world, but not in his home town of Detroit, Michigan.
He was chosen by Lionel Hampton to represent Detroit at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1974. Through the efforts of Don Lupp, the coordinator, and a supporter. He participated in a competition resulting in the name Montreux Jazz Festival being licensed for use in Detroit. Vaughn was one of the core musicians in this process, but Marcus Belgrave took all the credit.
He is the master of his own unique style of guitar chord melody. No one comes remotely close to his jazz abilities. Vaughn’s media exposer includes appearances on WDET’s “Ed Love Radio Show” and he has been an occasional guest artist on Detroit’s WDIV Channel 4.
Vaughn has worked as a sideman for, Theodore “Teddy” Harris, Wendel Harrison, Donald Walden, Milt Jackson, Reggie Workman, Venessa Rubin, and every great musician that has come out of Detroit in his lifetime, including;
Jimmy Smith, Richard “Groove” Holmes, Lou Donaldson, Dizzy Gillespie, Spanky Wilson, Sarah Vaughn, Jean Dushon, Claude VanDam, Marlena Shaw, and Charles Earling.
He has also participated in many Motown gigs with an array of top groups. In addition to being an arranger for the Hitsville musical “Blues Rhythm”, Vaughn has been an arranger guitarist with Thomas “Beans” Bowles on several international tours. He has also led his own ensemble groups over multiple decades.
Vaughn is the envy of every jazz guitarist in the Detroit area, but in spight of his participation in countless “Montreux Detroit Live TV Jazz” programs through 2005, and his leadership of the jazz guitar training program at the University of Windsor, he has not been recognized with any of the many awards that the Detroit music scene offers.
Based on his immense talent and all of his accomplishments, his time is overdue. He deserves to be recognized for the exceptional musician that he is. I hope you will consider supporting him for the next “Jazz Master Award”.
Dr. Peter LuVert Ayala Ph.D.