Lawrence Parker "Moondi" Klein is an American singer and guitarist. He is known for his work with Chesapeake, The Seldom Scene, and Jimmy Gaudreau.

Moondi Klein
Born (1963-03-13) March 13, 1963 (age 61)[1]
New York City, New York[2]
GenresBluegrass music, Americana music
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, piano
Years active1981–present
Websitejimmyandmoondi.com

Biography

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Early life

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Klein grew up in New York City.[3] His father, Howard Klein, was a pianist and music critic for the New York Times, and his mother was an artist.[4] Raised on opera, he (and his brother) sang with the New York Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus before he was age 10 until his mid-teens. When his father took him on a trip to southwest Virginia, Klein began to develop an interest in bluegrass music.[5]

Early career

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Klein's brother Adam Klein is an opera singer and a multi-instrumental folk musician. In 1981, Adam and Moondi recorded the album Me and My Brother.

After college in 1984, Klein relocated to the Washington D.C. area. He was a founding member of the DC area bluegrass group Rock Creek with Randy Barrett,[6] then he replaced John Starling as lead singer for The Seldom Scene, staying with them from 1994 until 1996.[7]

Chesapeake

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Klein and Jimmy Gaudreau met in 1990 at a picking party. In 1992, they formed Chesapeake with Seldom Scene members Mike Auldridge (resonator guitar) and T. Michael Coleman (bass). At first a side project, the band eventually became a full-time occupation, and they recorded three albums for Sugar Hill. With no banjo, they were more acoustic country than bluegrass. Chesapeake disbanded in 1999 when their contract with Sugar Hill ended.[8][9]

Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein

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When Chesapeake split up, Klein took time off from touring to raise his young children, but eventually began to play the occasional show with Gaudreau.[4] When they recorded their 2008 album 2:10 Train,[10] thery decided to formalize the duo. This was followed by Home From the Mill[11] and then If I Had A Boat, all released on Rebel Records.[12] In 2008, Gaudreau and Klein toured with Emmylou Harris.[13] Their focus is on relaxed improvisation and interplay.[14]

Discography

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As Adam and Moondi Klein

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  • 1981: Me and My Brother (Zeng)

As Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein

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  • 2008: 2:10 Train (Rebel)[17]
  • 2012: Home from the Mills (Rebel)[18]
  • 2014: If I Had a Boat (Rebel)[19]

Also appears on

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References

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  1. ^ "Dates: Birth & Death". Bluegrass Bios. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  2. ^ Stambler, Irwin; Grelun Landon (July 14, 2000). Country Music: The Encyclopedia (1 ed.). ISBN 9780312264871. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Curtis Jones (May 26, 2012). "Home From The Mills: Jimmy Gaudreau And Moondi Klein". Daily Vault. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein Perform in Harrisburg March 29, 2014". Folkmama. March 29, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  5. ^ "Jimmy Gaudreau, Moondi Klein for Weekend Bluegrass Concert Series". Cybergrass. May 21, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Brace, Eric (May 24, 2002). "Randy Barrett, Pickin' and Grinnin'". Washington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  7. ^ Jacques DiCroce (August 10, 2012). "Review: Home From the Mills – Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "Q&A with Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein". Music Makes Life Better. August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Chesapeake Biography". Kennedy Center. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  10. ^ Stone, Steven (July 1, 2008). "Jimmy Gaudreau – 2:10 Train". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  11. ^ Curtis Goad, John (August 20, 2012). "Home from the Mills – Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  12. ^ "Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein, If I Had A Boat". Bluegrass Unlimited. February 1, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  13. ^ Hansen, Christina (April 28, 2008). "Emmylou Harris prepares for new album, summer tour". Paste. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Heibutzki, Ralph (February 19, 2009). "So happy together: Duo coming to the Livery enjoy onstage 'wiggle room'". The Herald-Palladium. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  15. ^ Larry Carlin (December 3, 1997). "Pier Pressure - Chesapeake". Carltone Music. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  16. ^ "Chesapeake: Hook, Live & Sinker". Bluegrass Unlimited. September 1, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  17. ^ McGee, David (April 1, 2008). "2:10 Train - Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein". The Bluegrass Special. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  18. ^ John Lupton. "Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein - Home from the Mills". Country Standard Time. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  19. ^ Glen Herbert (September 29, 2014). "Review: Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein - If I Had A Boat". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
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