Jeff Golub

Jeff Golub (April 15, 1955 – January 1, 2015) was an American jazz guitarist. Golub was a contemporary jazz guitarist with 12 solo albums and three CDs as the leader of the instrumental band, Avenue Blue. Before becoming an instrumentalist, Golub worked as a sideman to a number of successful rock and pop artists.
He was arguably best known for his work with Rod Stewart, with whom he played from 1988 until 1995 performing on four albums and five world tours, as well as recording the live DVD, One Night Only, at the Royal Albert Hall.

Born in Copley, Ohio, outside of Akron, Golub started playing by emulating 1960s blues rock guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix. Then, following up on the artists that these musicians cited as their inspiration, he delved deeper into the blues listening to Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, plus B.B., Albert, and Freddie King.

Golub was in his teens when he first heard a Wes Montgomery record. This moment set him on a whole new course which led him to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. While in Boston he played in The James Montgomery Band. From Boston, Golub moved to New York in 1980 where his first major gig was with Billy Squier. Golub appeared on seven albums and three world tours with Billy. He released his first solo recording, Unspoken Words for Gaia Records in 1988, but really embraced his role as band leader and instrumentalist with the release of Avenue Blue in 1994 for Mesa Bluemoon/Atlantic Records.

Golub was a member of Dave Koz & The Kozmos, the house band of The Emeril Lagasse Show.

In June 2011, Golub became blind due to collapse of the optic nerve.

In September 2012, Golub fell on the tracks of a subway but was saved by Good Samaritans. Golub was brought to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center with minor injuries. He was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in November 2014, and died of the disease in Manhattan on January 1, 2015.

• 1988 – Unspoken Words
• 1994 – Avenue Blue
• 1996 – Naked City
• 1997 – Nightlife
• 1997 – Six String Santa
• 1999 – Out of the Blue
• 2000 – Dangerous Curves
• 2002 – Do It Again
• 2003 – Soul Sessions
• 2005 – Temptation
• 2007 – Six String Santa
• 2007 – Grand Central
• 2009 – Blues for You
• 2011 – The Three Kings
• 2013 – Train Keeps A Rolling
• 2015 - The Vault