John Klemmer

John Klemmer is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader from Chicago. He first gained attention in the late 1960s with his fusion of jazz, rock and R&B, releasing a series of albums on Chess and ABC/Impulse. His 1975 album Touch became a landmark in smooth jazz and crossover instrumental music, yielding the hit single "Touch." Klemmer continued to record for Elektra/Asylum and other labels through the 1980s, blending lyrical soprano and tenor saxophone lines with funk, soul and new-age textures. He has collaborated with artists such as Grant Green, Lonnie Liston Smith and the Crusaders and remains active as a composer and educator.