Rarified Heir Podcast #123: Jon Klages (Enoch Light)

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we talk to musician and ace copy editor Jon Klages, whose grandfather, musician/producer/record label owner Enoch Light likely was the genesis of the Stereo revolution. Yes, you heard me right, classically trained violinist Enoch Light was one of, if not the first, to realize that by placing more than one microphone in a recording studio, you could create a fuller, more dynamic sound to your then, Hi-Fi, and now Stereo system today. Whoa.

While Enoch released 25 plus records in his career, it was his record labels Grand Award, Project 3 and Command that really are his legacy. The labels, specifically Command, were known for their audio fidelity as well as their groundbreaking abstract artwork, gatefold sleeves and extensive liner notes that make them so unique. Be it space age pop, jazz, classical, film scores, Bossa Nova or anything else under the sun, Enoch Light was a pioneer in bringing the best music to the consumer in the best light (pun intended) possible.

We talk about Jon’s being in the recording studio with Enoch and mother Julie Light Klages at many sessions Enoch oversaw with his pipe at the ready. We also spoke about Jon’s father, lighting designer William Klages, winner of seven Emmy awards, who worked with both Ernie Kovacs and host Josh Mills’ mother Edie Adams at NBC in the early 1950s. We talk to john about his own musical career in the 80s as part of the “Hoboken Sound” with The Individuals, his move to Los Angeles and playing with the LA music scene surrounding the Paisley Underground and his 2021 solo debut Fabulous Twilight. Oh and did we mention that Jon copy edited the upcoming Ernie Kovacs book Ernie in Kovacsland from Fantagraphics coming July 18? Or that he’s copy editing Edie Adams second autobiography as well? No? Well, take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast for some serious greatness.