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Prakash John

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Prakash John
Born (1947-08-01) 1 August 1947 (age 77)
Mumbai, India
OriginToronto, Canada
Genres
InstrumentBass guitar
Years active1968–present

Prakash John is an Indian-Canadian rock and rhythm & blues bassist.[1] He is known as one of the originators of the 'Toronto sound'.

Early years

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John was born in Mumbai, India, in 1947. At age four, he was enrolled at the prestigious Protestant Cathedral and John Connon School, where he learned to play the piano and violin, and was exposed to Western and classical music, particularly that of J.S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, and Charles Wesley. In 1960, he and his family moved to Toronto, where he discovered WUFO 1080, an AM radio station in Buffalo, New York and, for the first time, heard American music and rhythm and blues. Inspired by Chuck Rainey, Motown legend James Jamerson, and Sly and the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham, John taught himself to play bass guitar.[2]

Career

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Bush, Funkadelic, Parliament, 1969-1971

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In 1965, John went to a Wilson Pickett concert and was inspired to become a professional musician—not so much by Pickett's performance, but by that of the opening act, The Rogues (aka The Five Rogues). At his school, he formed his first R&B group, The Trikq, which served as the rhythm section for another band, George Olliver & The Soul Children. He became good enough that, in 1970, he was scouted, and asked to audition, for a band called Mandala—which was the new name of, incredibly, The Rogues. Mandala was about to break up, but some of its members formed a new band, Bush, which consisted of guitarist Domenic Troiano, singer Roy Kenner, keyboardist Hugh Sullivan, John, and the Finnish-Canadian drummer Pentti Glan (aka 'Whitey'). It was Glan who would have the most influence on John, who said "He was a tremendous drummer and had tremendous sense of groove and an unusual grasp of funk for that time, the New Orleans funk. Because I liked his style of playing and I shaped mine to suit that, it was like magic when we played." Bush moved to Los Angeles, recorded the album Bush,[3][4][5] toured with Steppenwolf, and played with, among others, John Mayall and Three Dog Night.[6][7] Bush then broke up—Troiano and Kenner left to join James Gang and Glan went to work on the solo album of Steppenwolf frontman John Kay.[8]

While in Los Angeles, John also taught guitar to Nick St. Nicholas (Steppenwolf), Kenny Gradney (Delaney & Bonnie and Little Feat), and Rosemary Butler (Birtha).[9]

At that time, John declined several prestigious recording offers (Van Morrison's album Moondance[10]) He was invited, by Bobby Whitlock, to join Derek & the Dominos, and he was asked, by Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter, to join White Trash, with Winter asking three times. Instead, he spent some time as a counselor at a camp for handicapped children, where his mother was a teacher.[11]

When he was with George Olliver & The Soul Children, the band was in London, Ontario, where John's playing caught the attention of George Clinton, who was there with his band Parliament. Parliament's bass player couldn't get over the border and Clinton asked John to step in. At the end of the summer of 1971, Clinton brought him to Detroit, where they recorded America Eats Its Young, by Clinton's band Funkadelic. Clinton would have John back in 1974, to record the Parliament album Chocolate City.[12]

Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, 1972-1983

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In 1973, Glan called and asked if he'd like a ten-day job recording an album with Lou Reed. They recorded the album Sally Can't Dance, and spent the next four years touring and recording with Reed. Through Reed, John met the men who would become two of his other musical heroes, Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner, whom he credits for the quality of Reed's live albums, Rock 'n' Roll Animal and Lou Reed Live—he would play on both of their 1978 albums.[13][14][15]

In 1975, Glan and John were asked to work (along with Hunter and Wagner) on an album that Alice Cooper was recording in Toronto. That album became Cooper's legendary Welcome to My Nightmare. They went on tour in support of it, and Glan and John would spend the next six years with Cooper, touring and recording his albums Lace and Whiskey and DaDa.

The Lincolns, 1979-present

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In 1979, John founded his second R&B band, The Lincolns, which plays versions of R&B classics and some original tunes, mainly in clubs across Canada. In 1981, they released the album Take One; they released their second album, Funky Funky Funky in 1996. In the 1980s, the band opened for Robert Palmer, and was chosen to play at Wayne Gretzky's 1988 wedding.[16] At a 2002 Toronto concert, Prince joined them on stage.[17] In 2016, they toured Europe with a Tina Turner tribute show.[18] As of 2021, John's son Jordan leads the band, which is considered one of North America's premiere R&B bands.[19][20]

Solo career

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As a solo artist, John has played and/or recorded with James Brown, Rory Block, Paul Shaffer, Pinetop Perkins, Jr. Wells, Mike Bloomfield, Brenda Russell, Dr. John, American Flyer, Paul Dean and Murray McLauchlan, among others.

Film and television

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In 1998, John appeared in the film Blues Brothers 2000 (and played on the soundtrack). In 2016, he was one of the stars of Sunnyvale Shoals, a 19-episode TV series about the roots of Soul and R&B.[21] Also in 2016, he appeared on the 5 September Trailer Park Boys podcast Park After Dark.[22]

Personal life

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John lives with his wife in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga; they have two sons. In 2019, he was given a stone on the Mississauga Music Walk of Fame.[23]

Discography

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With Lou Reed

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With Alice Cooper

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With George Clinton

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With The Lincolns

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Other

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Compilations

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References

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  1. ^ "JAMMIN' WITH PRINCE IN YORKVILLE". James Adams Globe and Mail 13 July 2002
  2. ^ "A conversation with Prakash John". troianomusic.com. Domenic Troiano. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Bush (Side 1) – Rare 1970 US Pressing". 8 June 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Bush (Side 2) – Rare 1970 US Pressing". 8 June 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Bush – Customer Comments & Reviews". Amazon. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Three Dog Night, The American Dream, Bush. July 1970". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Steppenwolf / John Mayall / Bush, Oct 1970". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  8. ^ "‘The epitome of the Toronto sound’" Archived 2019-04-15 at the Wayback Machine. 13 Mar 2012 by Graham Rockingham Hamilton Spectator.
  9. ^ Stewart, John (19 September 2019). "R&B giant Prakash John not your typical rock star, Sept 2019". mississauga.com. Mississauga News. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  10. ^ Stewart, John (19 September 2019). "R&B giant Prakash John not your typical rock star, Sept 2019". mississauga.com. Mississauga News. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  11. ^ "A conversation with Prakash John". troianomusic.com. Domenic Troiano. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  12. ^ "A conversation with Prakash John". troianomusic.com. Domenic Troiano. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  13. ^ "A conversation with Prakash John". troianomusic.com. Domenic Troiano. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Lou Reed – Sweet Jane – live in Paris, 1974". 11 April 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ "Lou Reed Stockholm 74". 26 September 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ "Toronto musician Prakash John scored his greatest gig with the Wayne Gretzky wedding". Toronto Star, Neil Acharya, 16 July 2017
  17. ^ Adams, James (13 July 2002). "JAMMIN' WITH PRINCE IN YORKVILLE". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Simply The Best, Nov. 2016". frontview-magazine.be. Front View Magazine. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Prakash John & The Lincolns". 20 February 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Jordan John: the son also rises". Toronto Star, Aileen McConville 4 Sept. 2012
  21. ^ "Sunnyvale Shoals (2019) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Episode 57: Prakash John..." tpbpodcast.libsyn.com. Trailer Park Boys. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  23. ^ Stewart, John (19 September 2019). "R&B giant Prakash John not your typical rock star, Sept 2019". mississauga.com. Mississauga News. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Lou Reed – Sally Can't Dance". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  25. ^ "Lou Reed – Rock N Roll Animal". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Lou Reed – Live in Stockholm 1974". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Lou Reed – Lou Reed Live". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Lou Reed – My Name Is Lou". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Lou Reed – Phantom Animal". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Lou Reed – When Your Heart Is Made Out of Ice". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Alice Cooper – Welcome to My Nightmare". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Alice Cooper – Providence Nightmare". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  33. ^ "Alice Cooper – Providence 1975". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Alice Cooper – The Alice Cooper Show". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Alice Cooper – Lace And Whiskey". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  36. ^ "Alice Cooper – DaDa". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  37. ^ "Alice Cooper – Mad House Rock". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  38. ^ "Alice Cooper – The Life And Crimes of Alice Cooper". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  39. ^ "Alice Cooper – King of Shock Rock". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Alice Cooper – Welcome To Alice Show". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  41. ^ "Funkadelic – America Eats Its Young". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  42. ^ "Funkadelic – The Best of the Early Years Volume One". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  43. ^ "Parliament – Chocolate City". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  44. ^ "Parliament – Tear The Roof Off (1974-1980)". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  45. ^ "Prakash John & The Lincolns – Take One". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  46. ^ "The Lincolns – Funky Funky... Funky". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  47. ^ "Bush – Bush". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  48. ^ "Domenic Troiano – Domenic Troiano". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  49. ^ "Charlee – Charlee". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  50. ^ "Marilyn Jones – They Don't Play Our Love Songs Anymore". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  51. ^ "Rory Block – Rory Block". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  52. ^ Doug Henkle. "FolkLib Index – Rory Block Discography". Folklib.net. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  53. ^ "Dwayne Ford & Bearfoot – Passing Time". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  54. ^ "Brian And Brenda Russell – Word Called Love". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  55. ^ "Richard Wagner – Richard Wagner". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  56. ^ "Jack Tobi – Free at Last". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  57. ^ "Vezi – Quick As Silver". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  58. ^ "Black Market – Changing of the Guard". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  59. ^ "Jimi B. – Jimi B." Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  60. ^ "Raul Ja Ülo – On Meil Venna Kätt?". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  61. ^ "Vangie – Show Me the Way". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  62. ^ "Murray McLauchlan – Windows". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  63. ^ "Harlow – At Midnight". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  64. ^ "Paul Dean – Machine". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  65. ^ "Stu Heydon – To My Very Soul". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  66. ^ "Johnny Reid – Revival". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  67. ^ "Lou Reed – New York Superstar". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  68. ^ "Lou Reed – Between Thought And Expression – The Lou Reed Anthology". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  69. ^ "Various – Rock Ballads". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  70. ^ "Various – Blues Brothers 2000 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  71. ^ "Peter Foldy – Bondi Junction And Other Hits". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  72. ^ "Parliament – Gold". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  73. ^ "Alice Cooper – The Studio Albums 1969-1983". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  74. ^ "Lou Reed – The RCA & Arista Album Collection". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  75. ^ "Alice Cooper (2) – Welcome to My Nightmare Special Edition". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  76. ^ "Alice Cooper (2) – Alone In His Nightmare Live 1975". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
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