Prakash John
Encyclopedia
Prakash John is a Canadian rock bassist.
Born in Bombay, India
, John was a student at the Cathedral and John Connon School
, enrolling at the age of four in 1951. He migrated to Toronto in 1960.
John's first musical influences were in India, both in the Indian music he heard in Bombay and Western classical music, such as that of J.S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, and Charles Wesley
, which he heard both in his Protestant church and in school. On coming to Canada, he came into contact with African American music which then became his primary influence.
John started playing bass at the age of 17. His first high school band was named The Questions. John quickly moved on to his first paying gig with a 'Beatle' band called The Bounders, which was renamed The Press Gang in 1965. The following year John formed his first R&B group, The Trikq, which served as the rhythm section for John's next collaboration in 1967 with George Olliver & The Soul Children. John completed his first recording with The Majestics, a local nightclub band.
In 1969, John joined Bush
. Bush, the successor to Canadian band Mandala
, was largely the brainchild of two Canadians, drummer Penti 'Whitey' Glan and guitarist Domenic Troiano
; although Bush only lasted a year and a half, its influence among rock musicians was significant.
After two albums with Bush, the second released under Troiano's name as a debut album, John became a respected player in the Los Angeles scene, playing with Edgar Winter
and Rick Derringer
of (White Trash
) as well as Bobby Whitlock
(Derek & the Dominos). At the same time, John was active as a teacher; among his pupils were Nick St. Nicholas
(Steppenwolf
), Kenny Gradney
(Delaney & Bonnie and Little Feat
), and Rosemary Butler
(Birtha
).
John was recruited in 1971 by George Clinton
to work with the Parliament/Funkadelic on the albums Chocolate City and America Eats Its Young
while sharing bass playing duties with Bootsy Collins
on tour. He later appeared on several rock albums and tours of the 1970s such as Lou Reed's
Rock n Roll Animal, Lou Reed Live
and Sally Can't Dance
, as well as Alice Cooper
's Welcome to My Nightmare
, The Alice Cooper Show
, Lace and Whiskey
, and Dada
.
John left? mainstream rock in 1979, returning to Toronto to found his second R&B band, The Lincolns
, one of the last bands now remaining which represent the Toronto Sound
of the late 1960s. Wayne Gretzky
chose The Lincolns to play at his 1988 wedding in Edmonton. The Lincolns
remain active throughout Canada, and have released two albums, Take One and Funky Funky Funky.
As a solo artist, John has worked with James Brown
, Paul Shaffer
, The Blues Brothers
, Pinetop Perkins
, Jr. Wells and Mike Bloomfield
in addition to Rory Block
and Canadian songwriter Murray McLauchlan
. John appeared in the film Blues Brothers 2000
.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1997 as a member of Parliament/Funkadelic.
John is currently directing his eldest son Jordan, a musician and vocalist, and living in the Toronto area.
Bush
, self-titled
Domenic Troiano
Self-titled Mer SRM 1-639, later part of the collection The Toronto Sound, Mercury 314 538 562 2
Lou Reed
Rock 'n' Roll Animal
RCA B00004RD54
Lou Reed
Lou Reed Live
RCA B0006HQ2FO
Lou Reed
Sally Can't Dance
RCA B000059M2W
American Flyer
Spirit of a Woman 1977
Parliament
Chocolate City Casablanca 836 700-2 (reprint of Polygram)
Funkadelic
America Eats its Young
Rory Block
Rory Block, RCA Victor 0733 1975
Steve Hunter Swept Away
Dick Wagner
Dick Wagner
Alice Cooper
Welcome to my Nightmare
Alice Cooper
Lace and Whiskey
Alice Cooper
The Alice Cooper Show
Gene MacLellan
If It's Alright With You (Capitol ST-11535)
Alice Cooper
Dada
The Lincolns
Take One
The Lincolns
Funky, Funky, Funky
Blues Brothers Blues Brothers 2000
Born in Bombay, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, John was a student at the Cathedral and John Connon School
Cathedral and John Connon School
The Cathedral and John Connon School is a co-educational, private school located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, established in 1860.According to the Education World-C fore Survey of Schools 2010, the school has been ranked first in the all India ranking of the best schools in India.It was ranked...
, enrolling at the age of four in 1951. He migrated to Toronto in 1960.
John's first musical influences were in India, both in the Indian music he heard in Bombay and Western classical music, such as that of J.S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, and Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
, which he heard both in his Protestant church and in school. On coming to Canada, he came into contact with African American music which then became his primary influence.
John started playing bass at the age of 17. His first high school band was named The Questions. John quickly moved on to his first paying gig with a 'Beatle' band called The Bounders, which was renamed The Press Gang in 1965. The following year John formed his first R&B group, The Trikq, which served as the rhythm section for John's next collaboration in 1967 with George Olliver & The Soul Children. John completed his first recording with The Majestics, a local nightclub band.
In 1969, John joined Bush
Bush (Canadian band)
Bush was a Canadian rock band in the early 1970s, which evolved from the respected club act Mandala. The latter had a minor Canadian hit with the song "Love-Itis". Bush consisted of ex-Mandala bandmates Domenic Troiano, Roy Kenner, Hugh Sullivan and Pentti Glan, plus Prakash John. The group...
. Bush, the successor to Canadian band Mandala
Mandala, formerly the Five Rogues
Mandala was a Canadian Rhythm and Blues and Soul band from the Sixties. The band is best known for containing well-known Canadian guitarist, the late Domenic Troiano who recorded with The James Gang and The Guess Who in the Seventies...
, was largely the brainchild of two Canadians, drummer Penti 'Whitey' Glan and guitarist Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano was a Canadian rock guitarist, most notable for his contributions to Mandala, The James Gang, The Guess Who and as a solo artist.-History:...
; although Bush only lasted a year and a half, its influence among rock musicians was significant.
After two albums with Bush, the second released under Troiano's name as a debut album, John became a respected player in the Los Angeles scene, playing with Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
and Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
of (White Trash
White trash
White trash is an American English pejorative term referring to poor white people in the United States, suggesting lower social class and degraded living standards...
) as well as Bobby Whitlock
Bobby Whitlock
Robert Stanley 'Bobby' Whitlock is a songwriter and performer, best known as a member of Derek and the Dominos.- Biography :...
(Derek & the Dominos). At the same time, John was active as a teacher; among his pupils were Nick St. Nicholas
Nick St. Nicholas
Nick St. Nicholas is a bassist, and is best known for his membership in Steppenwolf from 1968 to 1970, and then again from 1976 to 1980. After World War II, his family moved to Toronto and became Canadian citizens. Sister Maren joined the Canadian Ballet Company & Conservatory of Music as pianist...
(Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
), Kenny Gradney
Kenny Gradney
Kenny Gradney, a native of New Orleans, is a member of the band Little Feat. He joined after their second album, replacing founding bassist Roy Estrada in 1972....
(Delaney & Bonnie and Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
), and Rosemary Butler
Rosemary Butler
Rosemary Butler began her career playing bass and singing in an all-girl band named the Ladybirds. The band appeared on several LA area television shows before opening for the Rolling Stones in 1964. She then joined all-female hard rock band Birtha who released two albums for Dunhill Records...
(Birtha
Birtha
-Places:*Birtha , on the Tigris, now at Tikrit, Iraq*Birtha , on the Euphrates, now at Birecik, Turkey*Birtha , near Thapsacus, location not precisely known*Birtha , a Titular See of the Roman Catholic Church...
).
John was recruited in 1971 by George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
to work with the Parliament/Funkadelic on the albums Chocolate City and America Eats Its Young
America Eats Its Young
America Eats Its Young is the fourth album by Funkadelic, released in 1972. This was the first album to include the whole of the House Guests, including Bootsy Collins, Catfish Collins, Chicken Gunnels, Rob McCollough and Kash Waddy...
while sharing bass playing duties with Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
on tour. He later appeared on several rock albums and tours of the 1970s such as Lou Reed's
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
Rock n Roll Animal, Lou Reed Live
Lou Reed Live
Lou Reed Live is a live album by Lou Reed, released in 1975. It was recorded at the same concert as Rock 'n' Roll Animal ; on December 21, 1973, at Howard Stein's Academy of Music in New York....
and Sally Can't Dance
Sally Can't Dance
Sally Can't Dance is the fourth solo album by Lou Reed. It is Reed's highest-charting album, reaching the Top 10. It is also the first solo Lou Reed album not to feature any songs originally recorded by Reed's earlier band, The Velvet Underground, as well as the first of Reed's solo studio albums...
, as well as Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
's Welcome to My Nightmare
Welcome to My Nightmare
Welcome to My Nightmare is the eighth album by Alice Cooper, released in 1975. This was Alice Cooper's first solo album . The cover artwork was created by Drew Struzan for Pacific Eye & Ear. Rolling Stone would later rank it as one of the "Top 100 Album Covers Of All Time".Welcome to My Nightmare...
, The Alice Cooper Show
The Alice Cooper Show
The Alice Cooper Show is a live album by Alice Cooper, released by Warner Bros. in December 1977.It was recorded live in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel on August 19th and 20th, 1977, during Cooper's "King Of The Silver Screen" US tour...
, Lace and Whiskey
Lace and Whiskey
Lace and Whiskey is the 10th studio album by Alice Cooper, released in May 1977.After many years of portraying a dark and sinister persona Alice Cooper decided to try something new and donned the persona of a heavy drinking comic PI named "Maurice Escargot" - a fictional character in the same vein...
, and Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
.
John left? mainstream rock in 1979, returning to Toronto to found his second R&B band, The Lincolns
The Lincolns
- History :In 1979, after leaving the Alice Cooper tours, Prakash John returned to Toronto and founded an R&B band in tribute to the Toronto bands of his youth. He recruited some of the best musicians available, some from previous tours, particularly the Lou Reed Sally Can't Dance album and tour...
, one of the last bands now remaining which represent the Toronto Sound
Toronto Sound
The Toronto Sound is the characteristic R&B sound from the years 1959–69 which was a major progenitor of American Rock in the 1970s. Its components are the Fender Telecaster guitar, Fender Precision Bass, New Orleans-style drumming, a dominant Hammond organ, and soul singing...
of the late 1960s. Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
chose The Lincolns to play at his 1988 wedding in Edmonton. The Lincolns
The Lincolns
- History :In 1979, after leaving the Alice Cooper tours, Prakash John returned to Toronto and founded an R&B band in tribute to the Toronto bands of his youth. He recruited some of the best musicians available, some from previous tours, particularly the Lou Reed Sally Can't Dance album and tour...
remain active throughout Canada, and have released two albums, Take One and Funky Funky Funky.
As a solo artist, John has worked with James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
, The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live...
, Pinetop Perkins
Pinetop Perkins
Joseph William Perkins , known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues musician, specializing in piano music...
, Jr. Wells and Mike Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield
Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70...
in addition to Rory Block
Rory Block
-Festival appearances:*Long Beach Blues Festival - 1993*San Francisco Blues Festival - 1999*Notodden Blues Festival - 2006-See also:*List of blues musicians*List of contemporary blues musicians*List of Austin City Limits performers-External links:****...
and Canadian songwriter Murray McLauchlan
Murray McLauchlan
Murray McLauchlan, CM is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and harmonica player.-Biography:Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, he emigrated to Canada with his family when he was five years old...
. John appeared in the film Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 American musical comedy film that is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Directed by John Landis, the film featured Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman, with cameos by many musicians.-Plot:...
.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 1997 as a member of Parliament/Funkadelic.
John is currently directing his eldest son Jordan, a musician and vocalist, and living in the Toronto area.
Discography
Charlee CharleeBush
Bush (Canadian band)
Bush was a Canadian rock band in the early 1970s, which evolved from the respected club act Mandala. The latter had a minor Canadian hit with the song "Love-Itis". Bush consisted of ex-Mandala bandmates Domenic Troiano, Roy Kenner, Hugh Sullivan and Pentti Glan, plus Prakash John. The group...
, self-titled
Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano was a Canadian rock guitarist, most notable for his contributions to Mandala, The James Gang, The Guess Who and as a solo artist.-History:...
Self-titled Mer SRM 1-639, later part of the collection The Toronto Sound, Mercury 314 538 562 2
Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock 'n' Roll Animal
Rock n Roll Animal is a live album by Lou Reed, released in 1974. In its original form, it features five songs from different periods of his creative career, including several songs by the Velvet Underground. The songs are all re-arranged into a powerful glam rock set...
RCA B00004RD54
Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
Lou Reed Live
Lou Reed Live
Lou Reed Live is a live album by Lou Reed, released in 1975. It was recorded at the same concert as Rock 'n' Roll Animal ; on December 21, 1973, at Howard Stein's Academy of Music in New York....
RCA B0006HQ2FO
Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
Sally Can't Dance
Sally Can't Dance
Sally Can't Dance is the fourth solo album by Lou Reed. It is Reed's highest-charting album, reaching the Top 10. It is also the first solo Lou Reed album not to feature any songs originally recorded by Reed's earlier band, The Velvet Underground, as well as the first of Reed's solo studio albums...
RCA B000059M2W
American Flyer
American Flyer
American Flyer was a popular brand of toy train and model railroad in the United States in the middle part of the 20th century.- The Chicago era, 1907–1938 :...
Spirit of a Woman 1977
Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
Chocolate City Casablanca 836 700-2 (reprint of Polygram)
Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
America Eats its Young
America Eats Its Young
America Eats Its Young is the fourth album by Funkadelic, released in 1972. This was the first album to include the whole of the House Guests, including Bootsy Collins, Catfish Collins, Chicken Gunnels, Rob McCollough and Kash Waddy...
Rory Block
Rory Block
-Festival appearances:*Long Beach Blues Festival - 1993*San Francisco Blues Festival - 1999*Notodden Blues Festival - 2006-See also:*List of blues musicians*List of contemporary blues musicians*List of Austin City Limits performers-External links:****...
Rory Block, RCA Victor 0733 1975
Steve Hunter Swept Away
Swept Away
Swept Away may refer to:*Swept Away , an episode from Discovery Channel's series I Shouldn't Be Alive*"Swept Away" ,1984*Swept Away , a 1984 album by Diana Ross...
Dick Wagner
Dick Wagner
Dick Wagner Dick Wagner Dick Wagner (born December 14, 1943, in Oelwein, Iowa is an American rock music guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed and KISS.-Performing career:...
Dick Wagner
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
Welcome to my Nightmare
Welcome to My Nightmare
Welcome to My Nightmare is the eighth album by Alice Cooper, released in 1975. This was Alice Cooper's first solo album . The cover artwork was created by Drew Struzan for Pacific Eye & Ear. Rolling Stone would later rank it as one of the "Top 100 Album Covers Of All Time".Welcome to My Nightmare...
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
Lace and Whiskey
Lace and Whiskey
Lace and Whiskey is the 10th studio album by Alice Cooper, released in May 1977.After many years of portraying a dark and sinister persona Alice Cooper decided to try something new and donned the persona of a heavy drinking comic PI named "Maurice Escargot" - a fictional character in the same vein...
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
The Alice Cooper Show
The Alice Cooper Show
The Alice Cooper Show is a live album by Alice Cooper, released by Warner Bros. in December 1977.It was recorded live in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel on August 19th and 20th, 1977, during Cooper's "King Of The Silver Screen" US tour...
Gene MacLellan
Gene MacLellan
Gene MacLellan was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Prince Edward Island.Among his notable compositions were "Snowbird", made famous by Anne Murray, "Put Your Hand in the Hand, "The Call", "Pages of Time" and "Thorn in My Shoe"...
If It's Alright With You (Capitol ST-11535)
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
The Lincolns
The Lincolns
- History :In 1979, after leaving the Alice Cooper tours, Prakash John returned to Toronto and founded an R&B band in tribute to the Toronto bands of his youth. He recruited some of the best musicians available, some from previous tours, particularly the Lou Reed Sally Can't Dance album and tour...
Take One
The Lincolns
The Lincolns
- History :In 1979, after leaving the Alice Cooper tours, Prakash John returned to Toronto and founded an R&B band in tribute to the Toronto bands of his youth. He recruited some of the best musicians available, some from previous tours, particularly the Lou Reed Sally Can't Dance album and tour...
Funky, Funky, Funky
Blues Brothers Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 American musical comedy film that is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Directed by John Landis, the film featured Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman, with cameos by many musicians.-Plot:...
External links
- A lengthy interview after Troiano's death.
- http://www.thelincolns.ca Website for The LincolnsThe Lincolns- History :In 1979, after leaving the Alice Cooper tours, Prakash John returned to Toronto and founded an R&B band in tribute to the Toronto bands of his youth. He recruited some of the best musicians available, some from previous tours, particularly the Lou Reed Sally Can't Dance album and tour...
] - John, Fonfara, Weiss, and Glan with Lou Reed, live in Paris 1974
- Prakash John and son Jordan.
- Interview with father & son.