Mark Klingman

Moogy Klingman
Mark "Moogy" Klingman in concert with Utopia at the Highline Ballroom
Background information
Born	(1950-09-07)September 7, 1950 Great Neck, New York, United States
Died	November 15, 2011(2011-11-15) (aged 61) New York City
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Keyboards, piano, synthesizer
Years active	1966–2011
Associated acts	Utopia, Bette Midler, Bo Diddley
Website	MoogyMusic.com

Mark "Moogy" Klingman (September 7, 1950 – November 15, 2011) was an American musician and songwriter. He was a founding member of Todd Rundgren's band, Todd Rundgren's Utopia, and later became a solo recording artist, bandleader and songwriter. He released two solo recordings, and his songs have been covered by artists as wide ranging as Johnny Winter, Carly Simon, James Cotton, Thelma Houston, Eric Clapton, Barry Manilow and Guns N' Roses. He played on stage with Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Luther Vandross, Lou Reed, Jeff Beck and Allan Woody & Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule. Other than Rundgren, his longest musical association may have been with Bette Midler, whom he served as band leader and who adopted for her signature song "(You Gotta Have) Friends", composed by Klingman and William "Buzzy" Linhart.

"Moogy" Klingman's nickname was not from the musical instrument, but from his baby sister's pronunciation of "Marky" as "Moo-Gee." He did later play Moog (pronounced Mogue) synthesizers, but his nickname was already well established.

Klingman grew up in the Long Island suburb of Great Neck, New York. By age 10 he was collecting comic books and gramophone records, playing DJ in his basement. Through his older sister, he got an access pass to attend the 1965 Newport Folk Festival performance where Bob Dylan "went electric," meeting Dylan before and after the concert. Back home, his band The Living Few was signed to a demo deal by producer Dick Glass and recorded a demo of Dylan songs and original tunes.