John Klemmer

John T. Klemmer (born July 3, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American saxophonist, composer, songwriter, and arranger. Klemmer was born July 3, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois. He began playing guitar at age 5 and alto saxophone at 11. His numerous early interests included graphics and visual art, writing, dance, puppetry, painting, sculpting, and poetry. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and began touring with midwestern "ghost big bands" (Les Elgart, Woody Herman), as well as playing with small local jazz and rock groups. After switching to tenor saxophone in high school, Klemmer played with commercial small groups and big bands in Chicago while leading his own groups and touring. Klemmer studied and performed music extensively during his younger days and in college. This included piano, conducting, harmony, theory, composition, arranging, clarinet, flute, and classical and jazz saxophone. He studied sax and jazz improvisation with noted Chicago saxophonist and teacher Joe Daley. He attended the National Music Camp at Interlochen.