Harry Klee

Harry G. Klee (1921-1998) was an American flutist, clarinetist, and saxophonist. He was one of the earliest recorded jazz artists to perform on the flute.

Klee hailed from Washington D.C. where he started his music studies. He later relocated to New York and then Los Angeles where he became a studio musician initially working for Columbia Pictures.

He joined Ray Linn`s Orchestra in the mid-1940`s with whom he made some of the earliest recordings to feature the flute in jazz following Albert Socarras in the late 1920`s and Wayman Carver in the early 1930`s. The group was also broadcast on radio which brought wider attention to the flute`s use as a jazz instrument, subsequently bringing it acclaim briefly. He is thus seen as precursor and inspiration to later jazz flutists who helped to solidify the instrument`s acceptance in the 1950`s such as Herbie Mann and Buddy Collette, both of whom had high regard for Klee. He was also the first to utilize the bass flute on a jazz record with Jimmy Giuffre and as a member of Buddy Collette`s Swinging Shepards.

Klee also worked in the groups of Charlie Spivak, Benny Goodman, Mel Torme with Sonny Burke And His Orchestra, Artie Shaw, Boyd Raeburn, Pete Rugolo, Stan Kenton, Gene Krupa, Johnny Mandel, Sammy Davis Jr., Henry Mancini, Neal Hefti, Nelson Riddle, and Frank Sinatra among many others.

He was active as a studio musician in Hollywood where he played on numerous film and TV scores such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (film), Hatari!, Days of Wine and Roses (film), The Pink Panther (1963 film), Von Ryan's Express,The Great Race, Batman (1966 film), The Devil's Brigade (film), The Omega Man, The Streets Of San Francisco, Planet of the Apes (TV series), Escape to Witch Mountain (1975 film), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series), and Caddyshack.