John Klein born 21 February 1921

John Klein (February 21, 1921 – April 30, 1981) was an American composer, author, conductor, pianist, organist and carilloneur. 

Born John McLaughlin Klein in Rahns, Pennsylvania, he studied at the Philadelphia Academy of Music in Philadelphia. He also studied at the High School of Music in Berlin with Paul Hindemith and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, at Ursinus College in Collegeville (Pennsylvania), but also privately with Nadia Boulanger, Igor Stravinsky and Marcel Dupré in Paris. 

Between 1937 and 1942 he was the chief organist for the Broadstreet Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio, and from 1944 to 1957 he was a pianist and composer for recordings, films, radio and television. He composed the US Treasury radio shows, including the 'American Notebook' series, which won the US Treasury District Service Citation and the Silver Medal, and the US Army radio show 'Sound Off!' (for which he composed the title theme). 

At the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, the Salzburg Music Festival and at the International Carillon Festival recitals in Cobh, Ireland he played the Schulmerich Carillon Americana Bells. He joined the Composers Guild of America, the American Guild of Organists and, in 1953, ASCAP. He became director of music for Schulmerich Carillons, Incorporated, and associate music director and instructor for the Columbus Boychoir School in Ohio. 

                                   

Klein appeared at the New York, Seattle and Brussells World Fairs, Montreal Expo 67, the Salisbury, Austria Music Festival and the International Music Festival at Cobh, Ireland. As a guest recitalist on the “Presidential” carillons, Klein has played the bells in Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Chapel, Harry S. Truman Library and Herbert Hoover Memorial Library. As a teacher and second director, he was affiliated with the Columbus Boychoir School in Ohio. As well as his many attributes, Klein also ran an antique shop in his home town of Rahns. 

As a multi-talented composer, arranger, his use of popular to classical music attracted a wide audience. During his musical career which included 45 carillon records and 450 published compositions. Klein was first to combine the carillon with orchestra and chorus. He has been musical composer/arranger for stage, screen, radio and television shows and has written chamber music, choral music and commercial jingles. Among his compositions were a Violin Concerto, The Yellowstone Suite and Cranberry Corners, USA as well as a number of songs and marches. 

As author, his two-volume book, “The First Four Centuries of Music” has been translated into foreign languages and his “Art of Playing the Modern Carillon” includes instructions, original compositions, transcripts and arrangements. Klein was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, of which he was a member. He was also a member of the American Guild of Organists.  He died April 30, 1981, in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. 

(Edited from Discogs, Encyclopedia.com & IMDb)