Toulouse Engelhardt, born Thomas Lloyd Engelhardt on April 14, 1951 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an American guitarist known for his fingerstyle technique. His sound blended elements of folk, blues, jazz, ragtime, and surf music. His passion for guitar began at age six, inspired by surf music. Engelhardt received informal lessons from jazz guitarists Wes Montgomery and Larry Carlton before his breakthrough supporting The Byrds' final American tour in 1973. He signed with Briar Records in 1975, releasing his debut album Toullusions (1975). Disillusioned with the industry, he took a ten-year hiatus to pursue academic degrees in natural sciences. Engelhardt returned to music in the mid-1990s, reissuing Toullusions and releasing albums like Martian Lust (2006) and Mind Gardens (2014). Notable achievements include a silver medal at the Virgin Islands Film Festival for his work on Winter Equinox and Best Jazz Artist at the Orange County Music Awards.
