Rachel I've just read some really wonderful messages about Your Dad ....I had the pleasure of meeting John at certainly a low time in both of Our lives ...it was approx 1978 Central Islip Ny Long Island ...We were in what was referred to then as a Psychiatric Hospital ...You must understand at that time that was the early days of Alchohol and Drug Rehab it was called CK Post its a long story but He told Me {humbly} about his horn playing and his Bass playing with Van Morrison ...We got to know each other...I remember one night We snuck down to the basement and found an old Piano although He explained He wasn't a Piano player He basic Blues {and pretty good }We sang Blues together {Nervously and rushed } hoping We weren't making too much noise ...Be proud He was a Great Man ...I personally eventually got My act together Sorry that Your Dad's life had to be so Hard ...Bobby
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John Klingberg
- Thread starter fearceol
- Start date
I am sorry I didn't see any of the messages that were posted since I last checked into this thread (which was some years ago). I had the alerts switched on for this forum so I figured I'd see any replies in my mailbox, and I did get other alerts from TB, so I thought that the discussion had stopped. I just did an Internet search for my father's name, as I do every few months to see if there are any new articles, and I saw that there are a bunch of new posts! Well, new to me, I should say. I am sorry for those who were waiting for me to reply. I will go back and read everything I didn't reply to before - hopefully anyone who asked me a question is still checking the forum.
This is the
Sorry it too three years to reply, but thanks for sharing your thoughts on my late father's bass playing. Although he's not exactly a household name, I do think those opening notes of Moondance are so distinct and recognizable to many.
I've seen Van Morrison perform, but I've never thought of contacting him. Truthfully, when I saw him perform, in a small theater, he did not look to be in great shape. The last thing I want to do is ask him to remember stuff that happened decades ago. But I remain close to one of my father's oldest friends so he shares a lot of memories. I am in touch with many of the old band members, though, we created a Facebook group for "Van's Band." I have never met most of them but I do appreciate them sharing their memories, just as I appreciate you all sharing how my father's bass relates to your own musical journeys.
Yep, that is my father with the long blond hair. There is another clip on YouTube of this same Fillmore East Concert, a couple more songs. I believe it was the last concert at the Fillmore, in fact. I have the whole show on VHS.
My mom said he always wanted to look at the drummer and had to be told to turn around and face the audience. I guess drummers and bassists work closely together.
Thank you, Gary. What a great word, mudita! I appreciate the kind remarks.
This is the
I've been meaning to put one together for years, in fact, I was thinking of creating a Web site about it to publish some of the memories his old friends sent me, and some of the photos I've collected. But that's more ambitious. I will definitely work on that Wikipedia page!
That's a wonderful memory, thanks for sharing! Sorry it took me so long to reply. I hope you see this message. I did not know my dad was hospitalized but certainly knew of his troubles. Music was his whole life; no matter how low he was, he always considered himself a musician first and foremost. His soul was simply made that way.
I was looking at the 2012 Moondance remaster ,
To my surprise the first comments are a witty exchange on the 'walking bass' on the 2012 remaster on YouTube. Of course they don't know our father's name, just that there's a bassist playing. But I can't help but love that they are still talking about his walking bass a half century later
CD
That bass is taking a long walk
Ricky J.C. Robinson Jr.
Man that bass is walking!
Arthur Brown
OMG where has great music like this gone?????????
Knock Nevis
@arthur Brown still here!
Max Ralston
Basses dont walk you idot
Gavin Bailey
And the drummer is taking a long ride.
Dennis Linares
@Max Ralston This one does!
@Max Ralston
This one's takin' a stroll. ; )
Yeshuahfullofit 2.0
Well, he did call shotgun! ; )
To my surprise the first comments are a witty exchange on the 'walking bass' on the 2012 remaster on YouTube. Of course they don't know our father's name, just that there's a bassist playing. But I can't help but love that they are still talking about his walking bass a half century later
CD
That bass is taking a long walk
Ricky J.C. Robinson Jr.
Man that bass is walking!
Arthur Brown
OMG where has great music like this gone?????????
Knock Nevis
@arthur Brown still here!
Max Ralston
Basses dont walk you idot
Gavin Bailey
And the drummer is taking a long ride.
Dennis Linares
@Max Ralston This one does!
@Max Ralston
This one's takin' a stroll. ; )
Yeshuahfullofit 2.0
Well, he did call shotgun! ; )
Here are some images from the first Van Morrison album my father played on, Moondance. It's a placeholder with track listing but I'll scan the album itself when I get back into the office. and the second, His Band and the Street Choir. My father is the blond man in the vest, second from left in the band pic
Attachments
I'm another who joined just to post in this thread! To Rachel: I'm so glad you saw this thread and got to hear so many stories and see such interest in and admiration for your Dad's work. Here's my two cents--less exciting than some of the other stories but I have to post it:
I'm 46; by the time I started really getting into music, the Moondance album was already a classic. In my early teens, I was just starting to become aware of Van Morrison, and it was around then that I first heard "Into the Mystic" (in a sweet, tear-jerker movie), and the song immediately stuck in my brain and became one of my favorite songs ever, never even falling out of favor for my getting tired of it or anything like that. To me, what always defined the song, what really made it great and tied together its beauty, was the bass part. It's a thing of great beauty all on its own, but the way it fits into the whole song is just inspired alchemy. When I met my wife, we found we were both big fans of the song, and so of course it was our first dance at our wedding.
As for how I found this thread: I've been messing around with a bass guitar for a little while, and decided I should look into lessons. I tend to dream big, so I figure "why not--heck I live in NYC--look up the person behind some of my all-time favorite bass playing and see if he's around NYC and gives lessons! He might be expensive, but heck, just meeting him would be worth it, as would taking even just one or two lessons from him." Well, discovering this thread made me quite sad to learn he was no longer among us, but it's pretty joyous to see that Mr. Klingberg's own daughter gets to hear all these admirers (and old friends' and acquaintances'!) stories. Great, great stuff. Best wishes for a wonderful 2021 to all.
I'm 46; by the time I started really getting into music, the Moondance album was already a classic. In my early teens, I was just starting to become aware of Van Morrison, and it was around then that I first heard "Into the Mystic" (in a sweet, tear-jerker movie), and the song immediately stuck in my brain and became one of my favorite songs ever, never even falling out of favor for my getting tired of it or anything like that. To me, what always defined the song, what really made it great and tied together its beauty, was the bass part. It's a thing of great beauty all on its own, but the way it fits into the whole song is just inspired alchemy. When I met my wife, we found we were both big fans of the song, and so of course it was our first dance at our wedding.
As for how I found this thread: I've been messing around with a bass guitar for a little while, and decided I should look into lessons. I tend to dream big, so I figure "why not--heck I live in NYC--look up the person behind some of my all-time favorite bass playing and see if he's around NYC and gives lessons! He might be expensive, but heck, just meeting him would be worth it, as would taking even just one or two lessons from him." Well, discovering this thread made me quite sad to learn he was no longer among us, but it's pretty joyous to see that Mr. Klingberg's own daughter gets to hear all these admirers (and old friends' and acquaintances'!) stories. Great, great stuff. Best wishes for a wonderful 2021 to all.
I knew and played with John in Boston. This was after Randy. Our band was then called the Pink Panthers. In the band were also drummer "Bat" Kaddy (who still playes drums in Portsmouth, NH) and sax player Jack Schroer whom I believe introduced John to Van. Jack was from Albuquerque where I now reside. Jack also played with the Pink Panthers. It most have been around 1967 that we played the entire summer at the Crown and Anchor in Provincetown, Mass (7 nights a week and a matinee on Sunday!). I actually have a live recording (on mic in the room) of a set we did there. We were scheduled to do a recording in New York but it never happened. John was plying mostly trumpet them doing R&B (James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Reading, Sam and Dave, etc. Real R&B). John was quirky, funny, and a great musician. I was sad to hear of his passing.
Thanks so much for posting, Roger and Ddar! I am working on a Wikipedia page about my father, so the info on this thread is really helpful. It's a shame that he lost touch with so many of his old friends and colleagues. Probably settling in Oklahoma, far from any real music scene, made it hard to keep in touch in the days before the Internet. I am not sure he intended to live there permanently; he had been driving from Woodstock, NY, and was involved in a serious car accident that destroyed his car, and found work in Oklahoma as an estate caretaker. I am not sure if he was involved in any additional music sessions after 1972, when he played on a Martha Velez album called Hypnotized. There is a mid-70s photo of him with a group called The Madam George Band, presumably named after the Van Morrison song, but I don't think they ever recorded anything. I am posting the photo here for the benefit of my father's friends. Check out the groovy clothing!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and memories of my late father. I will post again when I have the Wikipedia page finished.
Talk about groovy uniforms. Here we are c. 1966. I'm on the far left Roger Baker (piano), Mitch Schere (sax), Paul (bass), John (trumpet and bass) and Bat Kaddy (drums).
Here are two more snap shots showing John on trumpet at the Crown and Anchor in Provincetown, Mass
What marvelous photos! This must have been in the early 60s matching suits were all style for bands. My father might have even still been enrolled at Berklee, not sure how long he remained a student there. He had a collapsed lung and I suspect that's why is why he switched to bass (It also made him ineligible for military service). Thanks so much for sharing these, I will send them to my mom and brother who will be delighted as we have very few photos of him.
Story regarding that summer in Provincetown: As this was during the Vietnam war anyone working in Provincetown that summer had to fingerprinted! We were all concerned about being drafted. One night two state troupers came in the entrance to the club (opposite end from the band stand). They called the hostess over and were pointing to the band. We were all getting nervous while still trying to play. The hostess came right up to John and handed him a note. He later told me he was about to jump through the plate glass window. The note from the troupers asked if we knew any Herb Alpert songs! We played Tijuana Taxi and the troupers left.
LOL close call! Good thing they turned out to be music fans. As far as I know, my father was never drafted. I don't know if he got a medical exemption due to the lung problems or if he just lucked out and his number never came up.
