The first guitarist to receive Grammy Awards for both classical and jazz performances, Laurindo Almeida holds a special place in the evolution of popular music, being partially responsible for the early crossover genre of Latin Jazz.  Born and raised in Brazil, he was an entirely self-taught guitarist.  He started doing studio work in Sao Paulo while still a teenager, inspired by the work of Django Reinhardt.  After a pop success occasioned a trip to Los Angeles, he began a lucrative career in the film studios.  By the late 1940s, he was a feature jazz soloist with the Stan Kenton Orchestra.  He and Bud Shank signed with World Pacific Records and introduced jazz audiences to latin rhythms and forms that would eventually lead to the Bossa Nova revolution.  And his record, Duets with Spanish Guitar, featuring Sally Terri, won a clasical Grammy.  In the following years, Almeida would be featured on over 800 film and television soundtracks and compose more than 1,000 pieces. He won five Grammy Awards in all.  His energy and professionalism were legendary - his influence is still felt in the Latin rhythms of today.