Moogy Klingman, the keyboard player for Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, has lost his battle with cancer at age 61.
Mark ‘Moogy’ Klingman was a founding member of Todd’s band. He took his nickname Moogy as Moog synthesizers were dominant in the music of the time. The Moog was Klingman’s main instrument.
In a posting on his Facebook page Todd Rundgren wrote, “I have some sorrowful news this morning. Last night Moogy Klingman, longtime friend and Utopian passed away after a difficult battle with cancer. He will be greatly missed. RIP Moogy”.
Klingman and Rundgren first got together in 1969. He created the Secret Sound studio where they recorded ‘A Wizard, A True Star’, ‘Todd’ and other Rundgren and Utopia albums.
Klingman also produced and played keyboards on ‘Buckets of Rain’ for Bob Dylan and Bette Midler. His songs were recorded by Midler, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Barry Manilow and Rundgren. (Midler’s song ‘(You Got To Have) Friends’ was a Klingman song.
In January 2011 Utopia reformed to raise money for Klingman’s medical bills.
Utopia were also on tour across America this month.