John Klingberg, American Bassist, 1945-1985

John Robert Klingberg (November 17, 1945 - January 22, 1985) was an American bassist noted for his innovative contributions to two Van Morrison albums, Moondance and His Band and the Street Choir. His work is characterized by a unique style of walking bass, as heard on songs such as "Into the Mystic" and "Moondance." His bass can be heard on some of Van Morrison's highest-charting singles, including "Domino," "Blue Money," "Come Running," and "Call Me Up In Dreamland."

Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1963 Klingberg convinced his father to send him to Berklee College of Music in Boston. Folk, jazz, R&B, early rock n roll, and youth culture were taking root. Klingberg quickly became involved in Boston's burgeoning music scene. Saxophonist Jack Schroer introduced him to Van Morrison, who briefly listened to him play and hired him on the spot.

Despite his short career, Klingberg is highly influential among bassists and well-regarded as a musician. Moondance is one of the bestselling albums of all time, having received gold, platinum, and multi-platimum awards for more than 3 million copies sold. Many of the songs are instantly recognizable due to Klingberg's distinct walking bass lines, which continue to inspire bassists today, more than 50 years later.



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"Come Running" reached #39 in the charts in April 1970, and Van Morrison performed it at the NY Pop Festival on Randall's Island in New York City. You can see Klingberg's distinctive style at the 1:30 mark.