Chuck Berghofer


Charles Curtis Berghofer is an American double bassist and electric bassist, who has worked in jazz and as a session musician in the film industry for more than 60 years, including working on more than 400 movie soundtracks.

Early life

Chuck Berghofer was born in Denver, Colorado, and moved with his family to Arcadia, California when he was eight. With a lineage of musicians in the family, Berghofer took interest in music at an early age, playing trumpet at the age of eight. He also played the tuba in grade school and high school until moving to the double bass at the age of 18. As a young adult, as he began venturing out to jazz night clubs, he came to admire bassist Ralph Peña and was able to persuade Peña to take him on as a student.
According to Berghofer, he always felt as though his music was heavily influenced by Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Chambers and Ray Brown. He also admired the work of Scott LaFaro and told musician and journalist Gordon Jack, "The best soloist on the instrument was Red Mitchell... I loved to hear him solo."

Professional career

Two years after he took up the bass, Berghofer, joined an orchestra, led by Skinnay Ennis for a tour of the midwest and then joined with Bobby Troup. As his career progressed he eventually replaced his former tutor, Peña, in a duo with Pete Jolly, which later expanded into a trio with the addition of drummer Nick Martinis. In the 1960s he became a member of Shelly Manne's band, taking on a bassist position at Manne's night club Shelly's Manne-Hole, and had the opportunity to play alongside numerous leading jazz musicians of the era, including Jack Sheldon, Conte Candoli, Frank Rosolino, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Philly Joe Jones. During this time, he also recorded with popular singers such as Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers.
He was a member of the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra around 1967 when Frank Zappa recorded the orchestral parts for Lumpy Gravy.
With his lengthy career in film, Berghofer was also quite accomplished as a house jazz musician. He formed a semi-regular house band at Donte's in Los Angeles with pianist Frank Strazzeri and drummer Nick Ceroli and was videotaped playing with Roger Kellaway and drummer Larry Bunker as they backed Zoot Sims. Among others he accompanied were Ray Charles, Bob Cooper, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Peggy Lee, Shelly Manne, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Frank Rosolino, Seth MacFarlane, and Frank Sinatra.
In 2019, Berghofer, along with fellow Wrecking Crew members Don Randi and Don Peake and in conjunction with Denny Tedesco, performed around the Los Angeles area with their The Wrecking Crew's Farewell to Glen Campbell live shows.

Film, television, and popular music

As Berghofer made his career as a jazz musician, he landed a prominent role recording with Nancy Sinatra in "These Boots Are Made For Walkin". He also worked on television with Glen Campbell, recorded with Frank Sinatra, and played with Barbra Streisand, in which they did a recording of Funny Lady. His extensive film work led to his being awarded in the mid-1980s the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award as the most valuable bass player for four consecutive years. In that decade he recorded with Mel Tormé and later recorded again with Sinatra on Duets. During his career, Berghofer has performed on over 400 movie soundtracks. Just a few of the films he has worked on include Rocky II, The ''Majestic, Sing ,'' and Clint Eastwood's Bird. He also worked on such television shows as Barney Miller, Charlie's Angels, The Carol Burnett Show, The Simpsons and Star Trek: Enterprise. His bassline on Barney Miller inspired Cliff Burton to learn how to play bass.

Discography

With Christina AguileraMy Kind of Christmas
With Paul AnkaSongs Of December
With India ArieChristmas with Friends
With Hoyt AxtonMy Griffin Is Gone
With The Beach BoysSummer Days (And Summer Nights!!) Pet Sounds Smiley Smile
With George BensonInspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
With Mary J. BligeMary A Mary Christmas
With Debby BooneReflections of Rosemary
With Pat BooneNear
With Michael BubléCall Me Irresponsible Christmas To Be Loved Love Higher
With Vanessa CarltonBe Not Nobody
With Rosemary ClooneyFor the Duration Still on the Road Dedicated to Nelson White Christmas Brazil
With Adam CohenAdam Cohen
With Natalie ColeStardust Still Unforgettable
With Ry CooderJazz
With Rita CoolidgeAnd So Is Love
With Bobby DarinVenice Blue
With Matt DuskBack in Town
With The Everly BrothersIn Our Image The Everly Brothers Sing
With Rebecca FergusonLady Sings the Blues
With Melody GardotSunset in the Blue
With Vince GillBreath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection
With Josh GrobanStages
With Enrique IglesiasCosas del Amor
With B.B. King and Diane SchuurHeart to Heart
With Carole KingA Holiday Carole
With Jean KingSings for the In-Crowd
With Irene KralWonderful Life
With Diana KrallWhen I Look in Your Eyes
With Peggy LeeIn the Name of Love
With Seth MacFarlaneNo One Ever Tells You
With Melissa ManchesterIf My Heart Had Wings
With Barry ManilowShowstoppers Manilow Sings Sinatra A Christmas Gift of Love Scores The Greatest Songs of the Sixties The Greatest Songs of the Seventies In the Swing of Christmas The Greatest Love Songs of All Time My Dream Duets This Is My Town: Songs of New York
With Shelly ManneLive! Shelly Manne & His Men at the Manne-Hole Shelly Manne & His Men Play Checkmate
With Johnny MathisIsn't It Romantic: The Standards Album
With Martina McBrideIt's the Holiday Season
With Paul McCartneyKisses on the Bottom
With Carmen McRaeCan't Hide Love
With Bette MidlerBette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook
With Liza MinnelliGently
With Joni MitchellBoth Sides Now Travelogue
With Michael NesmithThe Wichita Train Whistle Sings
With Tom NethertonJust As I Am
With Aaron NevilleThe Grand Tour
With Steve PerryTraces
With Ruth Price and Shelly ManneRuth Price with Shelly Manne & His Men at the Manne-Hole
With Frankie RandallGoing The Frankie Randall Way!
With Della ReeseLet Me in Your Life
With Emitt RhodesThe American Dreams
With Howard RobertsWhatever's Fair!
With Diana RossTake Me Higher
With SealStandards
With Jon Secada
  • Secada
With Diane SchuurLove Songs Music Is My Life Friends for Schuur Midnight
With Blake SheltonCheers, It's Christmas
With Zoot SimsQuietly There: Zoot Sims Plays Johnny Mandel
With Frank SinatraStrangers in the Night That's Life The World We Knew Cycles My Way A Man Alone Sinatra & Company Some Nice Things I've Missed Duets Duets II
With Nancy SinatraBoots Sugar Nancy
With The Singers UnlimitedFriends
With Rod StewartMerry Christmas, Baby
With Barbra StreisandThe Movie Album What Matters Most Partners Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway
With Toni TennilleAll of Me
With Mel TorméMel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dektette – Reunion
With Sarah VaughanSarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand
With Dionne WarwickDionne Warwick Sings Cole Porter
With Robbie WilliamsSwing When You're Winning
With Trisha Yearwood