Larry Coryell, born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III on April 2, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, was an influential American jazz guitarist, often hailed as the "godfather of fusion." He was a pioneer in blending jazz with country and rock music, alongside Gábor Szabó. Raised in a musically encouraging environment, Coryell began learning piano at age four and switched to guitar in his teens. After his family moved to Washington, he was influenced by jazz guitarists like Wes Montgomery, which significantly shaped his musical direction.

Coryell attended the University of Washington before moving to New York City in 1965 to pursue a career in music. He quickly made a name for himself in the jazz scene, replacing Gábor Szabó in Chico Hamilton's quintet and co-founding the jazz-rock band The Free Spirits. He was known for his eclectic style, which incorporated elements of blues, rock, and country into jazz, and his collaborations with prominent musicians such as John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, and Paco de Lucía.

Throughout the 1970s, Coryell led the influential jazz-rock band Eleventh House and released numerous albums, establishing himself as a versatile guitarist comfortable with both electric and acoustic styles. In the 1980s, he focused on acoustic guitar and continued to collaborate with a wide array of musicians across genres. Coryell was also a music educator and contributed a monthly column to Guitar Player magazine from 1977 to 1989.

Larry Coryell passed away on February 19, 2017, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering figure in jazz fusion and a true guitar legend.