John Klingberg

[fearceol]

Recently I've been rediscovering how good an album Van Morrison's "Moondance" is/was. The bass lines on the title track are really great. I tried to get some information on the bassist John Klingberg but not much was available except that he is deceased. Has anyone any more info ( other artists he played with ect ).

Thanks.

[btafoya]

I was just looking for other work by this bassist and no luck. Anyone?

[lbjacobs9]

Is it possible? In 1978 I think it was John Klingberg who was my neighbor. 2nd Ave and 28th St. walk up., NYC. He told me he had played on the Moondance album with Van Morrison. He was down and out, had been sick (collapsed lung), and was trying get back into the music world, but ... it was tough. He was working as a mover and had lots of money problems. The night we both were robbed, he told me Paul Schaefer from The David Letterman had called to see if there was anything he could do to help. He was moved by the gesture. I think they stole his trumpet? He was a good guy, gentle soul. He and his girlfriend eventually moved to the south. Could this be John K?

[RachelKlingberg]

Hello, I registered specifically to provide you with this information. I am John Klingberg's daughter, however, my parents were seperated when I was quite young and I did not know him. I figured I'd have time to get to know him as I got older but sadly he died at the age of 39 in 1985 and so we never actually met, aside from when I was a small child.

He live in various places, spent much time living around Woodstock, NY. Two years before he died, he and his girlfriend moved to Oklahoma. He did play many instruments so it makes sense that you recall him playing the trumpet. It sounds like you knew my dad in NYC, it's quite likely. However there was another John (Plantania) who also played on Moondance.

I have some information from a writer researching some of Van Morrison's band members, Brian Toscano. Early in his music career my father played with Dario And The Rainbows (later called Dario's Inferno) and with an R&B cover band called Randy and the Soul Survivors. Apparently he was playing trumpet at the time, though the publicity photo I have of the two bands shows him holding a bass. These bands never recorded an album or track, as far as I know. He did the two albums with Van Morrison, Moondance and His Band and the Street Choir. Shortly thereafter he played on a Martha Velez album called Hypnotized. He is also credited on some of the outtakes of the Van Morrison compilation album Philosopher's Stone.

As I mentioned, I did not know my father but thought I'd share the information I have regarding his recordings. There are only the four that I mentioned above, the Martha Velez album and the three by Van Morrison. I hope this is helpful. It's nice to see that my father is remembered as a musician after all these years. I'm sure he would have been pleased to know that.

[jerry]

Very cool of you to come in here with the info Rachel, thank you!

[wlholiday]

Dear Rachel
I too am learning the song Moondance as part of a covers band project.
This is a wonderful track but I must say on careful listening to the bass, John Klinberg does a great job. I have certainly learnt something from him and his legacy lives on!

Warren (Australia)

[RachelKlingberg]

Thanks very much, Warren, it's great to read that after all these years, my dad is still remembered for his talent. He was a remarkable and versatile musician.
All the best,
Rachel

[lo-toots]

This record has become a HUGE well-loved global hit in my view, largely due to John's inventive, bouncy and catchy bassline; well, Van's contribution also helped

I'd love to know how much was written - but John sure nailed it and sounded like he had a ball doing it.

[KenSari]

Hi Rachel. Thanks so much for responding. I was just now searching for information on John; wondering what information is available on him. I found this thread and, like you, I too registered here just to talk about John.

My wife and I lived near Woodstock for a few years (West Saugerties) and were friends with John and Cathy (his then girlfriend) and Cathy's 6 children. They were together for a year or so before attempting to move to Austin with 2 of her daughters. Before his departure, I spent several evenings with John talking about music and being a musician for Van Morrison.

A little tidbit...
He messed up one note during the recording, and was very embarrassed having to sit through the playback with the band and the sound engineers many times so he can re-record that note at the right time. He seemed to be a real perfectionist and proud of his talent.

Another tidbit...
He shared with me that during concerts at large venues with Van he used to stand behind the stack of speakers so he wasn't so 'visible' to the crowd. He really didn't like being in the spotlight.

I wish I spent more time with him. On his way to Austin to live with his family, their little van was hit by a truck and pretty much destroyed. John sprained his ankle in the event, but all eventually came out of it okay. Not having a vehicle any longer, they decided to stay where they were (Oklahoma) to work for awhile, make some money, and continue with their journey. John got a job on an oil well there and they stayed probably longer than they wanted to because of the money he was making. Anyway, he passed away in Oklahoma (very young). Cathy later moved back to NY with her 2 daughters, and I was with her when she spread John's ashes in this little stream off Tinker street in Woodstock.

Ken

[RachelKlingberg]

Thanks for the information, Ken. I always wondered where his ashes were scattered, I only knew that they were in Woodstock, where he felt most at home. I know that little stream, as I still visit Woodstock at least once a year to visit old family friends.

I tried to get more information from Katherine by mail some years ago but I'm not sure if I had the right person and she never replied. I had asked her for photographs or anything from my dad that she could part with, or if she had any of his instruments, because my brother is also a talented musician and I know he'd love his father's instruments. If I had the right Katherine, I don't blame her for not replying; we didn't have much to do with my father while he was alive, but we were just children and not really capable of communicating with him or planning a visit, although he did write asking us to come visit. I guess everyone believed we'd have more time. So it's good to get these little details - I wondered why he ended up in Oklahoma, and had thought he was working as a caretaker on some land owned by the Rev. Sun Young Moon, but the details I have are so sketchy, and it's such a painful topic, I hate to ask old friends or family as it just makes them too sad.

Thanks immensely for the information.
-Rachel

[JimmyM]

wow, this is a very touching thread. rachel, you sound like a great gal with a good head on your shoulders. your dad would no doubt be very proud.

[Illinimax]

What a fantastic thread. This site is amazing.

[RachelKlingberg]

I thought you might enjoy these images of my dad in one of his earliest bands, Randy and the Soul Survivors, and with a fellow called Dario. He is holding the trumpet in the back row, but switched to bass shortly afterwards, so the Dario photo is probably later. My mom remembers Dario, according to her, he was known as Danny.

These were sent to me by Brian Toscana who is writing a book about Jack Schroer, who also played with Van Morrison at the time my father was in the band. Randy and the Soul Survivors never recorded anything, so far as I can tell. They played soul covers in Boston clubs in 1965-66. This was before my parents met and before he joined Van Morrison, of course. My dad had attended Berklee College of Music but he dropped out, perhaps to pursue a professional music career.




Thanks for all your kind remarks about my father.

-Rachel

[MR PC]

Wow, thank-you!

I've got to say that I've always thought that John's bass sound and part composition are in a class of their own. He's right up there with Jemmott, McCartney, ect. Very unique. Songs like "Into the Mystic" and "Moondance" very much are defined by his parts. And I've always thought that band was Morrison's best by far. Never understood why it ended so abruptly.

I read an reference to rumor that John was somehow working with the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, care taking some land or something. I sure hope not.

[KenSari]

Hi Rachel.
I'm going through some of my old photos (way before digital photography :-) this weekend and try to scare up some more recent pics of John. I think he left for Austin around 1981 or 82, so they would be from about then. I'll send you the jpegs of those directly.

Regarding Katherine, I'm not sure why she wouldn't respond. I hadn't spoken to her in quite awhile, but talk occasionally with one of her daughters who live in Kingston. I'll see if I can get her to email you; she was with John and Cathy in Oklahoma when he passed away. Although she was pretty young at the time, she may be able to share some things with you.

I do truly enjoy his bass playing style. I don't know why he never did more with it; he was quite the master at his craft. I was always puzzled why he decided to leave that career.

Ken

[RachelKlingberg]

I read an reference to rumor that John was somehow working with the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, care taking some land or something. I sure hope not.

I think he was, as far as my family knows, but not to worry, he wasn't involved in the cult in any way, just working as a caretaker. I figured he was mowing lawns and maintaining grounds and stuff like that. Sun Myung Moon owns a lot of land and I'm sure he employs many people not involved in the cult.

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by RachelKlingberg

I think he was, as far as my family knows, but not to worry, he wasn't involved in the cult in any way, just working as a caretaker. I figured he was mowing lawns and maintaining grounds and stuff like that. Sun Myung Moon owns a lot of land and I'm sure he employs many people not involved in the cult.

Wow.

In any case, John was a mighty fine musician back in the day......a couple of years at Berklee School of Music, a major role in the creation of one of the classic pop songs and recordings of the 20th Century..................

Moondance.

[RachelKlingberg]

Sorry for the delayed response - I know it's been six months since you posted that, and I had enabled notifications on this thread, but I didn't get one for your message from June. I just wanted to thank you for your kind words about my father's music. I was recently contacted by one of his friends from his youth back in Illinois and she says that even back then, before he left for Berklee, she knew how talented a musician he was.

It's lovely to read that his talent is remembered, considering that's he's not exactly a household name, but his bass lines are familiar to many, and I'm sure that would have made him happy Thanks everyone!

[Luke73]

Hi Rachel,

This is my first post at TalkBass in a long time.

My teacher asked me to transcribe Moondance, so of course I'm researching a little about the song and now of course about your Dad - as a result I stumbled across this thread.

His contribution to that song is wonderful, and I'm pleased to be able to learn from him so many years later!

All the best,

Luke.

[RachelKlingberg]

Thanks, Luke, I am happy to know his bass line stands the test of time - he was a talented musician, by all accounts, and played electric as well as upright bass, in addition to other instruments. I hope you will have fun with "Moondance." Thanks for your kind comment.