Gregory Harry "Gregg" Karukas is a Grammy winning smooth jazz keyboardist, producer, composer and pianist, originally from the Washington, D.C.-Bowie, Maryland area. He experimented with drums, guitar, trumpet and keyboards as a child, but it was not until his teens that he pursued music professionally as a pianist, having played with the award winning Bowie High School Starliners big band. He was an early synthesizer proponent at age 16, owning one of the first Minimoogs and co-founded the fusion group East Coast Offering with former Air Force Airmen of Note saxophonist Tim Eyermann, becoming DC's top original jazz/rock band. He then went on to form Natural Bridge with Shannon Ford, Carl Cable and Wink Robinson; later members included Michael Manring, Gerry Kunkel, Joe Dougherty and Steve Bloom on percussion. Gradually, since moving to Los Angeles in 1982 he developed a melodic and soulful style of music that made him a mainstay on smooth jazz and radio circuit. Karukas is known to write music that evokes strong emotions. Gregg has received multiple Best Keyboardist nominations at the Oasis and National Smooth Jazz Awards. 

May 18th, 1956 in Baltimore (Age 68)