Joe Pass

Not many people know that the great jazz guitarist Joe Pass had a whole lot to do with the San Fernando Valley. Before he made it really big, he used to teach out of his Northridge garage, and he established himself as one of the masters with regular gigs at the great North Hollywood (and Universal City adjacent) club Donte's.
For Joe and North Hollywood completists, the Donte's sessions are gathered on two CD sets: "The Joe Pass Trio Live at Donte's" and "Resonance." Also, great L.A. bassist and longtime Pass associate Jim Hughart plays bass on both sets.

More things Pass:

Joe Pass and Roy Clark
Joe Pass and Oscar Peterson

And more: A pretty good Wikipedia entry. One fan's remembrance. And the mother of all Joe sites, the Joe Pass Memorial Hall.