In his late teens, Malone started making his way to the music clubs in Albany, Georgia, to get some playing time and begin honing his guitar and performance skills. He started making a name for himself as he moved to Houston, Atlanta and ultimately to New York City. One of his most pivotal career-shaping experiences was sitting in with the great organist Jimmy Smith’s band in Atlanta and eventually joining his band in the late 1980s. Other career and playing influences include fellow guitarists Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Bucky Pizzarelli, and John Collins and vocal artists Sam Cooke, the Dixie Hummingbirds and Freddy Cole. Malone has played with a wide range of musicians from different music idioms: Patti Austin, Little Anthony, Regina Belle, Peabo Bryson, the Winans, Kenny Burrell, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, Clarence Carter, George Benson and David Sanborn, who features Malone on his latest CD. Malone starred in Robert Altman's 1996 movie Kansas City and recently issued a well-received duo CD with pianist Benny Green. Malone is touring the country with Green and with his own quartet to support Playground.