Irv Kluger

Kluger first studied violin at the Henry St. Settlement School and at New York University Composition and took private drum lessons. He began playing professionally at age 15. First, he was with Bob Astor, but his first firm commitment was 1942/43, at Georgie Auld ( with whom he recorded ). After that he played with Bob Chester and Freddie Slack (1943 /44), from 1945 to 1947 in Boyd Raeburn and then at Herbie Fields and Bobby Byrne ( 1947). 1947/48 he was with Stan Kenton, 1949 at Tex Beneke and 1949/50, with Artie Shaw. 1950 to 1953 he played in the orchestra of the musical Guys and Dolls, and 1953/54, with Artie Shaw ( Gramercy Five). After that, he was a studio musician and a freelancer in Hollywood. The mid-1950s he was in the house band of the show theater Moulin Rouge in Hollywood.

He took, among others, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie (1945 ), Dave Pell (1956 ), Bud Powell, The Four Freshmen, Les Paul on ( in addition to the big-band recordings). Later he played with Benny Goodman and Woody Herman.

He never took on under his own name.