Johnny Klein
Encyclopedia
John A. Klein, Jr. was an American
-born musician
who played drums
for the Lawrence Welk
orchestra from 1951 to 1976 and on The Lawrence Welk Show
from 1955 to 1976. He was also Welk's second cousin
.
Born in Strasburg, North Dakota
, he was the son of German-Russian
parents and the oldest of five children. It was during his early years that he took up music, especially the drums where he got to perform with several area bands. Upon graduating from high school in 1936, Johnny first enrolled at the University of North Dakota
but later enrolled at the University of Missouri
where he graduated with both a Bachelor of Arts
and Masters Degree in Music Education. He also served in the Army
during World War II
.
In 1951, while Klein was studying for his Masters degree in Columbia, Missouri
, Welk and his orchestra came to St. Louis, Missouri
for an engagement and encouraged his cousin to try out for his band, which he accepted.
For the next twenty-five years, in addition to being featured drummer, he was also the band's equipment manager and also served as driver of the band truck while out on tour. However, ill health due to a bleeding ulcer
forced him to step down full-time in 1976, but did recover and later served as Welk's music librarian
with the organization. He also continued to perform as well, often playing for the Sunday Swing at the Welk Resort in Escondido with a group called the Journeymen and with other clubs until his retirement in the 1990s.
He died in 1997 after a brief illness in Torrance, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who played drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
for the Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
orchestra from 1951 to 1976 and on The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...
from 1955 to 1976. He was also Welk's second cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
.
Strasburg, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 549 people, 216 households, and 136 families residing in Strasburg. The population density was 1,823.0 people per square mile . There were 245 housing units at an average density of 813.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 96.72% White, 0.18%...
, he was the son of German-Russian
History of Germans in Russia and the Soviet Union
The German minority in Russia and the Soviet Union was created from several sources and in several waves. The 1914 census puts the number of Germans living in Russian Empire at 2,416,290. In 1989, the German population of the Soviet Union was roughly 2 million. In the 2002 Russian census, 597,212...
parents and the oldest of five children. It was during his early years that he took up music, especially the drums where he got to perform with several area bands. Upon graduating from high school in 1936, Johnny first enrolled at the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
but later enrolled at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
where he graduated with both a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Masters Degree in Music Education. He also served in the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1951, while Klein was studying for his Masters degree in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, Welk and his orchestra came to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
for an engagement and encouraged his cousin to try out for his band, which he accepted.
For the next twenty-five years, in addition to being featured drummer, he was also the band's equipment manager and also served as driver of the band truck while out on tour. However, ill health due to a bleeding ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
forced him to step down full-time in 1976, but did recover and later served as Welk's music librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
with the organization. He also continued to perform as well, often playing for the Sunday Swing at the Welk Resort in Escondido with a group called the Journeymen and with other clubs until his retirement in the 1990s.
He died in 1997 after a brief illness in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
.