Klaus Doldinger
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Klaus Doldinger (born 12 May 1936) was a German saxophonist, especially well known for jazz and as a composer of film music. He was the recipient of 1997's Bavarian Film Awards. He died October 16, 2025 in Icking, Germany.
Doldinger was born in Berlin, and entered a Düsseldorf conservatory in 1947, originally studying piano and then clarinet, graduating in 1957. In his student years, Doldinger gained professional performing experience, starting in 1953 in the German Dixieland band The Feetwarmers, and recording with them in 1955. Later that year he founded Oscar's Trio, modeled on Oscar Peterson's work.
During the 1960s he worked as a tenor saxophonist, working with visiting American jazz musicians and recording in his own right.
Doldinger is perhaps best known for his film scores to the acclaimed German U-boat film Das Boot (1981) and later The NeverEnding Story (1984).
Doldinger married Inge Beck in 1960; they have three children, Viola, Melanie and Nicolas Doldinger. Since 1968 they have resided in Icking, a small Bavarian village, south of Munich.
Doldinger's jazz band Passport (2008)
Doldinger's recurring jazz project Passport, started in 1971 (then called "Klaus Doldinger's Passport"), still enjoys huge success in Germany. In its influence it was sometimes called the European version of Weather Report.
At various times members of Passport included Peter O'Mara (guitar), Roberto DiGioia (keyboards), Patrick Scales (bass, since 1994), Ernst Stroer (de:Ernst Ströer) (percussion, since 1989), Christian Lettner (drums, since 2000), Michael Hornek (keyboard since 2009), Biboul Darouiche (percussion, since 1995) and others. Guests include Brian Auger (1973), Johnny Griffin (1973) and Pete York (1973).[3] The first true Passport album had strong ties to Amon Düül II containing contributions from Olaf Kübler, Lothar Meid and Jimmy Jackson, it remains an off-the-radar Krautrock essential.
Photos
Films (48)
Life After the NeverEnding Story
2024 · Self
Jazzfieber - The Story of German Jazz
2023
Le Bateau : l'histoire d'une superproduction sous-marine
2021 · Self - Das Boot Music Composer
Klaus Doldinger's Passport - Live in Leverkusen 2019
2019 · Musiker
ManDoki Soulmates: Wings Of Freedom
2019 · Self
Meine Welt ist die Musik
2019 · Self
Das doppelte Lottchen
2017 · Original Music Composer
Open Wounds – A Journey through German Genre Films
2017
Udo Lindenberg: Stärker als die Zeit - Live
2016
Sing! Inge, Sing!
2011 · Himself
Der Bulle und das Landei - Tödliches Heimweh
2010 · Music
Die Frau, die im Wald verschwand
2009 · Music
Fernsehgeschichte(n). Deutsch
2007 · Self
Ein Leben wie im Flug
2007 · Original Music Composer
Василиса
2000 · Music
Zimmer mit Frühstück
2000 · Music
Palmetto
1998 · Original Music Composer
Living Dead
1997 · Original Music Composer
Alles wegen Robert De Niro
1996 · Original Music Composer
Wer hat Angst vorm Weihnachtsmann?
1996 · Music
Die Wildnis
1993 · Music
Salt on Our Skin
1992 · Music
Hurenglück
1991 · Original Music Composer
Me and Him
1988 · Original Music Composer
The Case of Mr. Spalt
1988 · Original Music Composer, Music
A Father's Revenge
1988 · Original Music Composer
The NeverEnding Story
1984 · Original Music Composer
Love is Forever
1983 · Original Music Composer
The Roaring Fifties
1983 · Original Music Composer
Satan ist auf Gottes Seite
1983 · Original Music Composer
Das Boot
1981 · Original Music Composer
The Fall
1979 · Music
Black and White Like Day and Night
1978 · Original Music Composer
The Second Awakening of Christa Klages
1978 · Music, Original Music Composer
Moritz, Dear Moritz
1978 · Original Music Composer
The Leading Man
1977 · Music
Paradiso
1977 · Music
Four Against the Bank
1976 · Original Music Composer
The Swiss Conspiracy
1976 · Music
The Net
1975 · Original Music Composer
To the Bitter End
1975 · Original Music Composer
One or the Other of Us
1974 · Original Music Composer
...But Johnny!
1973 · Original Music Composer
The Sudden Wealth of the Poor People of Kombach
1971 · Music
Eine Rose für Jane
1970 · Music
Baal
1970 · Original Music Composer
Negresco
1968 · Original Music Composer
Wirb oder stirb
1968 · Music
Séries (33)
Doomsday: World War I
2012 · Music
Tonspur – Der Soundtrack meines Lebens
2010 · Self
Germany, Your Artists
2008 · Self
Der Sonntags-Stammtisch
2007 · Self
Nachtlinie
2007 · Self
ZIBB
2003 · Self
Abendschau
2000 · self
Volle Kanne
1999 · Self
Alpha Forum
1998 · Self
Zimmer frei!
1996 · Self
NeXt
1994 · Self
Alles außer Mord
1994 · Original Music Composer
Morgenmagazin
1992 · Self
ECHO-Verleihung
1992 · Self
Riverboat
1992 · Self
Disney Club Deutschland
1991 · Self
DAS!
1991 · Self
Der Erfolg ihres Lebens
1990 · Original Music Composer
Abenteuer Airport
1990 · Erster Saxophonist
Ekkehard
1989 · Original Music Composer
Blauer Panther
1989 · Self
Flug in die Hölle
1985 · Music
Das Boot
1985 · Sound Director
A Case For Two
1981 · Original Music Composer
Bavarian Film Awards
1979 · Self
Eichholz & Söhne
1977 · Music
Alle Jahre wieder – Die Familie Semmeling
1976 · Original Music Composer
3 nach 9
1974 · Self
Musikladen
1972 · Self
Polizeiruf 110
1971 · Original Music Composer
Scene of the Crime
1970 · Original Music Composer, Music
Grimme Award
1964 · Self
NDR Jazz Workshops
1958 · Self