Mike "Pinky" Semrad, Stan Johnson, Quinn Kulhanek, Ed Heine, Larry Fiehn and Jay Davis formed The Fabulous Nomads, Fremont, Nebraska's first rock band in 1962. In the fall of 1963, Pinky, Stan, Quinn, and Ed enrolled at the University of Nebraska, minus the Nomads' drummer. As Stan made the rounds of fraternity houses during rush week, he mentioned that he was a member of a rock band that was looking for a drummer. In one lucky encounter a fraternity member said, "That's funny. I just met a drummer who is looking for a band." Thus, Phi Delta Theta pledge Mike Klingner was introduced to Delta Tau Delta pledge Stan Johnson and became the drummer with The Fabulous Nomads. They played their first dance for Alpha Phi sorority on September 27, 1963.

The band soon changed its name to J. Harrison B. & the Bumbles and was a campus favorite. They played such Lincoln venues as Pla-Mor Ballroom, Robbie's Happy Corner, Pershing Auditorium, The University of Nebraska Union, Jazz & Java, Keen-Time and 9-High Parties, The Lincoln and Cornhusker Hotel Ballrooms, Der Loaf & Stein and The Red Ram. The band expanded, and George Bryan, Barry Hanson, Ron McClure, and Dennis Kohout joined during the years that Mike was the drummer.

Mike proved to be a sparkplug in the band, joining in immediately with "Heine-Humor." "Heine-Humor" is difficult to define, but included pranks such as three guys sitting in the front seat (back in the days of bench front seats), driving down the road. Then the guy sitting on the right ducks down so that oncoming cars see only two guys in the front seat sitting strangely close together.

Mike developed into a fine lead vocalist. He frequently traded vocals with Pinky on the Righteous Brothers hits of the day. The duo was best known for their rendition of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," with Mike singing the low (Bill Medley) part and Pinky singing the high (Bobby Hatfield) part. They also collaborated on such favorites as "Little Latin Lupe Lu," and "KoKoMo." Occasionally Mike moved out front to sing, with Johnson taking over on drums. He is especially remembered for singing the Temptations' "My Girl."

Mike provided the band with venues to play in his hometown of McCook, in southwestern Nebraska. They played a number of "Mel Turman's Clothing Store Back-to-School" dances at the McCook City Auditorium. This allowed the band to set world records during 15-minute breaks, driving south seven miles to reload on cases of 3.2% Coors beer in Cedar Bluffs, Kansas, where 3.2% was legal for those under 21. Favorites at those dances were "The Birds and the Bees," "The Game of Love," and "Walk Away Rene."

The Klingner home was "home base" for the band during gigs in McCook, and an overnight stop en route to venues in other western Nebraska towns, Kansas, and Colorado. Mike's father "Chink" assisted the band in finding the legendary "Tom the Trailer" which was used for years by the band. "Tom the Trailer" continued to grow as the band acquired more equipment to transport. "Mother Klingner" made whopping breakfasts for the boys and allowed them to sleep and practice in the family room.

During summers J. Harrison B. & the Bumbles regularly performed in Colorado at lounges such as Shad's Lounge in Sterling, Jax Snax in Estes Park, The Merry-Ax in Loveland, The Buff Room in Boulder, Galena St. East in Aspen, and The Krazy-Katt in Colorado Springs. They also toured Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri.

Mike astounded his fellow band members by always knowing someone in the audience, no matter where they played. It soon became a topic of discussion as the band arrived in a new location for a gig: "Is Klingner going to know someone here?"

Some old friend always came forward to greet Mike. Finally, the band played in Illinois, and the bets were on. "Surely no one is going to know Mike this far away from home." To their amazement, the band had barely set up when a friendly face came forward: "Hi ya, Kling. How's it going?"

Mike retired from J. Harrison B. and the Bumbles during his senior year at the University of Nebraska. He played his last dance with the band on October 29, 1966, in Nebraska City. Mostly due to graduation from college and military obligations during the Vietnam War, the original group disbanded in late 1968. However, Stan Johnson has kept the J. Harrison B. tradition going by forming versions of the band throughout the world. As he moved to new locations during his career in the military and as a high school music teacher, Johnson formed new versions of the group in England, Germany, Japan, Montana, Wisconsin, and California.

As an indication of the bond formed within the original J. Harrison B. & the Bumbles, Pinky Semrad and Stan Johnson traveled from Fremont, Nebraska, and Davis, California, respectively, to attend a memorial tribute to Mike Klingner in McCook on July 3, 2000. After the traditional 21-gun salute in Norris Park, Stan played taps for his old friend.

On August 5, 2000, J. Harrison B. & the Bumbles was inducted into The Nebraska Music Hall of Fame at the site of some of their early gigs, the Pla-Mor Ballroom in Lincoln, Nebraska. The band dedicated its induction and concert to the memory of Mike Klingner. Mike's brother, Tom, sister-in-law Andrea, and widow, Jane Klingner Adams, were present to accept Mike's induction plaque. It holds a place of honor in the display case dedicated to Mike on July 3, 2000, in the Captain Mike Klingner Memorial Room of the McCook Public Library.