Keyboardist/composer Gregg Karukas spent his early years close to the jukebox in his father's roadside tavern in Bowie, MD absorbing the hits of the sixties - from The Beatles to Motown, Stevie Wonder, then singer/songwriters like Carole King, James Taylor, Leon Russell, Laura Nyro and Joni Mitchell. “I was inspired by the idea that you could touch people's emotions with melodic songs and lyrics that meant something.” Today, unlike many artists who depend on outside producers, pop covers and co-writers to provide their material, Gregg is one of the few in the modern Smooth Jazz genre that has scored hit after hit writing and producing 10 all original solo CD’s since his 1987 debut, The Nightowl.  By titling his latest release simply after his initials, GK,  Gregg Karukas is once again confirming his identity as an artist whose own creative growth and commercial success perfectly parallels that of the Smooth Radio format.

Karukas began the 2000’s riding high on the success of his critically-acclaimed album and #1 radio hit Nightshift, its follow-up release Heatwave and a Best Keyboardist nomination at the National Smooth Jazz Awards. His string of Top 5 Radio hits includes Nightshift, Girl in the Red Dress (#4-from Looking Up-2007), Summerhouse (#1 Gavin in '93), Key Witness (1991), Severna Park, Sound of Emotion (‘92), and his breakout 1998 major label debut Blue Touch, #4 on the R&R chart. Gregg’s early L.A. bands included young undiscovered sax talents Dave Koz, Gary Meek and yes, Boney James, before his breakout Warner Brothers deal. His long time associations with these and other contemporary artists such as Rick Braun, Peter White, Brazilian guitarists Ricardo Silveira and Dori Caymmi, Richard Elliot, singers Shelby Flint and Brenda Russell, Paul Brown, newcomer Jessy J. and many more are evidence of his solid place in the All-Star realm.

Gregg has been all over the airwaves recently, featured on Jessy’s debut #1 single “Tequila Moon,” and Rick Braun and Richard Elliot’s smash hit “RnR”. He is also featured on The Rippingtons’ latest, Modern Art and 20^th Anniversary, reuniting with Russ Freeman, Dave Koz, David Benoit and many other top name musicians who appeared the groundbreaking 1986 album Moonlighting.  Some of his recent projects include tours with Rick Braun, Peter White, Larry Carlton, LA Chillharmonic, Java Jazz West Coast All-Stars (Jakarta) and The Tribute to the Jazzmasters. 

"People say my music sounds romantic and uplifting - and I look so happy on stage,” he says. “It's totally true. For me, the best music comes out of an inner feeling of either intense happiness or sadness. I always try to stay faithful to that original inspiration, because that is where the true ‘sound of emotion’ comes from.”