Taking his stage name from the Eastern mysticism that has inspired his long musical career, the former Edward Larry Gordon began playing the zither, his signature instrument, in the early '70s. His breakthrough came when English ambient pioneer Brian Eno spotted him busking. Eno invited Laraaji to record on his label, and the resulting Ambient 3: Day of Radiance featured Laraaji playing a variety of stringed instruments to create a hypnotic sound with little electronic influence. He still creates spiritually transcendent music that is highly respected in the ambient and new age genres.