Some of us were just born to do the things we do; it’s in our blood, in our genes. Jon Klages is one of those folks whose lineage belies a musical connection.
His grandfather was a popular and successful producer during the latter half of the 20th century, Enoch Light. Light was known for his exciting and fun recordings on his own Command Records label. Often his productions were worthy of an audiophile’s discerning ear. Light was also known for the groundbreaking abstract and minimalist album art that graced the covers of many of his recordings: some the designs that artist Josef Albers created for Light are now on display at the Museum of Modern Art.
So, it’s no surprise that Klages felt the tug to finally fuse his own musical proclivities with those of his familial forebearers. But Klages’ background is a bit different from that of his grandfather, Klages is a guitarist by trade and performed with The Individuals, the Richard Lloyd Band, and was also a part of the Hoboken, NJ music scene in the early 1980s.
His new album, Fabulous Twilight (Danbury Fair Recordings), is an eclectic effort that features all the best of what Jon has explored in his past: twangy guitars, clever and slick production, and, of course, lots of fun. Join Jon and I as we discuss his new album and the myriad influences that brought it to life.
Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Sharp Notes each Saturday evening at 6pm and TVD Radar on Sundays at 5AM on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.
