Born Carlos Daniel Ayala on 4 March 1950 in the USA, Guitarlos lived a turbulent existence marked by cult fame in Los Angeles, chronic alcoholism, periods of homelessness, and a surprising return to the studio after 2000. In the late 1970s he served as lead guitarist for Top Jimmy And The Rhythm Pigs, a rowdy Los Angeles bar band that attained near-legendary standing on the local circuit across a volatile run of shows. The group’s unrestrained party habits formed a central element of its draw before the outfit disintegrated in 1987 amid rampant drinking and substance abuse. Recently divorced, Guitarlos navigated the balance of the decade in hardship, relocating to San Francisco and sustaining himself through street performances. Entering the 1990s his physical condition deteriorated sharply, culminating in a diabetic coma in March 1990 from which he narrowly recovered. He resumed busking yet persisted with heavy drinking, pushing his health toward irreversible breakdown until he received surgery for congestive heart failure in 2001. That same year the passing of his former Top Jimmy And The Rhythm Pigs bandmate James Koncek triggered a decisive shift; Guitarlos finally abandoned alcohol and issued his first record, Mission Blues. His nephew and manager Damon Ayala subsequently financed a second album while securing contributions from John Doe, Dave Alvin, and Mike Watt. Straight From The Heart, an eclectic collection of original songs blending R&B, blues, country, and rockabilly influences, appeared toward the end of 2003.
