Chuck Berghofer

Biography

b. Charles Curtis Berghofer, 14 June 1937, Denver, Colorado, USA. Given birth to right into a musical family members (his grandfather experienced used John Philip Sousa), Berghofer started playing trumpet at age eight, where time his family members had relocated to California. He performed several other brass devices before embracing the dual bass in his mid-teens. An admirer of Ralph Peña, he persuaded the old man to provide him lessons. 2 yrs after taking on the bass, Berghofer became a member of the orchestra led by Skinnay Ennis for any Midwest tour. Then became a member of pianist Bobby Troup where he continued to be for several years associated the pianist and his wife, vocalist Julie London. He changed Peña inside a duo with Pete Jolly, the group later on expanding to some trio with drummer Nick Martinis, and, in 1960, joined up with Shelly Manne’s home band in the drummer’s recently opened golf club, the Manne Opening. Through the early 60s, Berghofer used several leading jazzmen, including Jack port Sheldon, Conte Candoli, Frank Rosolino, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Philly Joe Jones. Like a great many other leading music artists around the western coast, Berghofer started playing within the film, tv and documenting studios. Although many such music artists are doomed to some way of measuring anonymity, among Berghofer’s first documenting gigs, support Nancy Sinatra on the session which she produced ‘These Boots ARE CREATED For Walkin’’, offered him a prominent part. As he informed Jazz Journal International’s Gordon Jack port, ‘That small semi-tone figure around the bass appeared to make the record and for that reason I started performing around three pop record classes each day all over city.’ One of the pop singers with whom he recorded within the 60s had been the Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley. He also done tv with Glen Campbell, documented with Frank Sinatra, and performed in the soundtrack of Barbra Streisand’s Crazy Female. His film function extends to an astounding 400 appearances resulting in his being honored within the middle-80s the Country wide Academy of Documenting Arts and Sciences Prize as the utmost valuable bass participant for four consecutive years. For the reason that 10 years he documented with Mel Tormé and afterwards recorded once again with Sinatra on Duets. Despite all his studio room activities Berghofer continuing to try out jazz, dealing with many observed artists throughout a spell when, with pianist Frank Strazzeri and drummer Nick Ceroli, he produced the semi-regular home music group at Donte’s in LA. A fantastic video, documented at Donte’s in 1970, features Berghofer with pianist Roger Kellaway and drummer Larry Bunker support Zoot Sims. Amongst others he followed had been Artwork Pepper, Bob Cooper, Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz. Berghofer continuing his eclectic gigging within the 90s, documenting with Frank Capp’s Juggernaut, Jolly, Pal Greco and Keely Smith, and in addition visiting European countries. Berghofer has announced his influences to become Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Chambers and Ray Dark brown. He also respected the task of Scott La Faro and informed Jack port that, ‘The greatest soloist in the device was Crimson Mitchell … I adored to listen to him single.’ Berghofer’s taking part in is distinguished by his large, rich tone as well as the feeling of relaxed power he provides his music.

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