John Klemmer

John T. Klemmer, born July 3, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, was an American saxophonist, composer, songwriter, and arranger who began playing guitar at age five and alto saxophone at eleven. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and toured with midwestern bands before switching to tenor saxophone in high school. Klemmer's breakthrough came when he signed with Chess Records, releasing his innovative hit album Blowin' Gold in 1969, which is considered one of the first jazz/rock fusion albums. He then moved to Los Angeles and toured extensively, collaborating with artists like Tim Buckley and Oliver Nelson. Klemmer's career spanned various genres, including jazz rock fusion, traditional jazz, and smooth jazz. Notable albums include Waterfalls (1972), Barefoot Ballet (1976), and Arabesque (1977). He performed at prestigious venues such as the Newport Jazz Festival and Carnegie Hall, and his compositions have been recorded by artists like The Manhattan Transfer.