Trivia

Performed bass guitar on the Barney Miller theme song: the opening bass line is one of the most famously recognized in pop culture.

He played various other brass instruments before turning to the double bass in his mid-teens.

In 2019, Berghofer, along with fellow Wrecking Crew members Don Randi and Don Peake and in conjunction with Denny Tedesco (producer and director of the 2008 film The Wrecking Crew), performed around the Los Angeles area with their The Wrecking Crew's Farewell to Glen Campbell live shows.

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.

Two of his biggest hits were his bass solo on Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking" and the "Barney Miller" TV theme.

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".

His bassline on Barney Miller inspired Cliff Burton to learn how to play bass.

During his career, Berghofer has performed on over 400 movie soundtracks. Just a few of the films he has worked on include Rocky II (1979), The Majestic (2001), Sing (2016), and Clint Eastwood's Bird (1988).

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 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.

He has performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan and more recently with Christina Aguilera, Michael Feinstein and Steve Tyrell.

An admirer of Ralph Peña, he persuaded the older man to give him lessons.

He was a member of the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra around 1967 when Frank Zappa recorded the orchestral parts for Lumpy Gravy.

Chuck Berghofer also recorded with popular singers such as Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers.

Born into a musical family (his grandfather had played with John Philip Sousa), Berghofer began playing trumpet at the age of eight.