Career
His music is distinguished by his huge, rich tone and the sense of relaxed power he brings his music As a child he played the trumpet and tuba in grade 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 gained an admiration to Ralph Peña and was able to convince Pena to take him on as a student.
Berghofer played in high school trumpet and tuba and moved at eighteen to the double bass.
According to Berghofer he always felt as though his music was heavily influenced by Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Chambers and Ray Brown. I loved to hear him solo.’ 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, Pena, in a duo with Pete Jolly which later expanded into a trio with the addition of drummer Nick Martinis. He formed a semi-regular house band at Donte"s in Los Angeles with pianist Frank Strazzeri and drummer Nick Ceroli and was videotaped having played 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, and Frank Sinatra.