Johnny Klein, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJohnny Klein
American musician
Date of Birth: 04-Jun-1918
Date of Death: 31-Jan-1997
Profession: musician
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Gemini 
About Johnny Klein
- John A.
- Klein, Jr.
- (June 4, 1918 – January 31, 1997) was an American 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, Klein 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, which he played with several area bands.
- Upon graduating from high school in 1936, Johnny first enrolled at the University of North Dakota.
- Later he 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 master's degree in Columbia, Missouri, Welk and his orchestra came to St.
- Louis, Missouri for an engagement.
- Welk encouraged his cousin to try out for his band, which he accepted. For the next twenty-five years, in addition to being featured drummer, Klein was the band's equipment manager and the 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.
- After a recovering, he 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.
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