Paul Klinger Passes

Paul Klinger was a major participant in the Southeast Michigan jazz scene for many years until passing away on May 5. Paul was a multi-instrumentalist who excelled on cornet as well as the soprano and baritone saxophones. He played and recorded with the New McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, Sippie Wallace, Bonnie Raitt, and Jim Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band. He led his own Easy Street Jazz Band since 1970, and was a long-time member of Paul Keller’s Bird of Paradise Orchestra. Keller had this to say on the New Reformation Band website:

Paul will be greatly missed. He was a long-time member of the New Reformation Jazz Band and a pillar of the Southeast Michigan jazz scene. He toured the country with many bands for several decades and delighted in recounting every detail of those adventures to anyone who would listen. For me, Paul was one of the most influential musicians in my life. What a good friend he was! We love him and his wife Pam! Our hearts are with her and the Klinger family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Founding Faculty Music Scholarship at the University of Michigan-Flint, the Golden Retriever Foundation, or the charity of your choice.