Papa John Creach
Encyclopedia
Papa John Creach played for Jefferson Airplane
(1970–1975), Hot Tuna
, Jefferson Starship
, Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation, the San Francisco All-Stars (1979–1984), The Dinosaurs
(1982–1989), and Steve Taylor
. Creach was also a frequent guest at Grateful Dead
concerts.
Creach began playing violin
in Chicago bars when the family moved there in 1935, and eventually joined a local cabaret band, the Chocolate Music Bars. Moving to L.A. in 1945, he played in the Chi Chi Club, spent time working on an ocean liner
, appeared in a couple of films, and performed as a duo with Nina Russell.
In 1967, Creach met and befriended drummer Joey Covington
. When Covington joined the Jefferson Airplane
in 1970, he introduced them to Creach, who was invited to join Hot Tuna
. He would remain with the band, although legally regarded as a session musician
, for the next five years, before leaving in August 1975 to concentrate on a solo career. Despite this, he guested in the spring 1978 Jefferson Starship tour. A year later, he renewed his working relationship with Covington as a member of the San Francisco All-Stars, as well as Covington's Airplane predecessor, Spencer Dryden
, as a member of The Dinosaurs
(1982–89). He also continued with occasional guest appearances with Hot Tuna, and was on stage at the Fillmore Auditorium that night in 1988 when Jack Casady
and Jorma Kaukonen
of Hot Tuna were reunited with Paul Kantner
and Grace Slick
for the first time since Jefferson Airplane disbanded.
In 1992, he became one of the original members of Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation, and performed with them until suffering a heart attack
during the 1994 Northridge earthquake on January 17, 1994. Because of this, Creach contracted pneumonia
, from which he died a month later at the age of 76.
Jefferson Starship performed a benefit concert to raise money for his family after his death and released tracks from their performances as the album Deep Space/Virgin Sky.
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
(1970–1975), Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.- Jefferson Airplane side project :...
, Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
, Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation, the San Francisco All-Stars (1979–1984), The Dinosaurs
The Dinosaurs
The Dinosaurs, formed in 1982, was a Bay Area supergroup to emerge from the psychedelic music era of San Francisco. The group consisted of Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company, John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Papa John Creach of Hot Tuna, Spencer Dryden of Jefferson...
(1982–1989), and Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
. Creach was also a frequent guest at Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
concerts.
Creach began playing violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
in Chicago bars when the family moved there in 1935, and eventually joined a local cabaret band, the Chocolate Music Bars. Moving to L.A. in 1945, he played in the Chi Chi Club, spent time working on an ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
, appeared in a couple of films, and performed as a duo with Nina Russell.
In 1967, Creach met and befriended drummer Joey Covington
Joey Covington
Joseph "Joey" Edward Covington is a US drummer, best known for his involvements with Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane.-Brief biography:...
. When Covington joined the Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
in 1970, he introduced them to Creach, who was invited to join Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.- Jefferson Airplane side project :...
. He would remain with the band, although legally regarded as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, for the next five years, before leaving in August 1975 to concentrate on a solo career. Despite this, he guested in the spring 1978 Jefferson Starship tour. A year later, he renewed his working relationship with Covington as a member of the San Francisco All-Stars, as well as Covington's Airplane predecessor, Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden was an American musician best known as the longest-serving drummer for Jefferson Airplane. He also played with New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Dinosaurs, and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.-Early life:...
, as a member of The Dinosaurs
The Dinosaurs
The Dinosaurs, formed in 1982, was a Bay Area supergroup to emerge from the psychedelic music era of San Francisco. The group consisted of Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company, John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Papa John Creach of Hot Tuna, Spencer Dryden of Jefferson...
(1982–89). He also continued with occasional guest appearances with Hot Tuna, and was on stage at the Fillmore Auditorium that night in 1988 when Jack Casady
Jack Casady
Jack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
and Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
of Hot Tuna were reunited with Paul Kantner
Paul Kantner
Paul Lorin Kantner is an American rock musician, known for co-founding the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship.- Overview :...
and Grace Slick
Grace Slick
Grace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
for the first time since Jefferson Airplane disbanded.
In 1992, he became one of the original members of Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation, and performed with them until suffering a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
during the 1994 Northridge earthquake on January 17, 1994. Because of this, Creach contracted pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, from which he died a month later at the age of 76.
Jefferson Starship performed a benefit concert to raise money for his family after his death and released tracks from their performances as the album Deep Space/Virgin Sky.
Discography
- First Pull Up, Then Pull DownFirst Pull Up, Then Pull DownFirst Pull Up, Then Pull Down was the second album by Hot Tuna. The album was recorded live with electric instruments, instead of the acoustic instruments used on the previous album, Hot Tuna. The album rose to #43 on the Billboard charts...
(1971) — Hot Tuna - BarkBark (album)-Personnel:* Jack Casady – bass* Joey Covington – percussion, drums, vocals* Paul Kantner – guitar, vocals* Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar, vocals* Grace Slick – piano, vocals- Additional personnel :...
— Jefferson Airplane (1971) - Papa John CreachPapa John Creach (album)Papa John Creach is Papa John Creach's first solo album. All the members of Jefferson Airplane also make appearances on the album along with members of the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Santana, and Tower of Power.-Side One:...
(1971) - BurgersBurgers (album)-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – guitars, lead vocals*Jack Casady – bass, vocals, eyebrow*Papa John Creach – violin, vocals*Sammy Piazza – drums, tympani, other percussion, vocals-Additional personnel:...
(1972) — Hot Tuna - Long John SilverLong John Silver (album)-Personnel:*Grace Slick – vocals, piano*Jack Casady – bass*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar*Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar, vocals*Papa John Creach – electric violin*John Barbata – drums, tambourine, "against the grain stubble scraping"...
- Jefferson Airplane (1972) - Filthy!Filthy!Filthy! is Papa John Creach's second solo album and the first with his band Zulu. The guitarist of Zulu would later be known as Keb' Mo'. The band Hot Tuna also makes an appearance on the album on the track "Walking the Tou Tou," written by Jorma Kaukonen....
(1972) - Thirty Seconds Over WinterlandThirty Seconds Over Winterland-Personnel:Personnel credits from original Vinyl release.*Jack Casady – bass*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar*Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar, vocals*Grace Slick – vocals*Papa John Creach – electric violin*John Barbata – drums, percussion...
- Jefferson Airplane (1973) - Baron Von Tollbooth & the Chrome NunBaron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun-Personnel:*Paul Kantner – vocals on all tracks except "Across the Board" and "Fishman", rhythm guitar on all tracks except "Across the Board" and "Fishman", glass harmonica on "Harp Tree Lament" and "White Boy"...
- Paul Kantner, Grace Slick & David Freiberg (1973) - Playing My Fiddle for YouPlaying My Fiddle for YouPlaying My Fiddle for You is Papa John Creach's third solo album and his last with Grunt Records. All the songs on the album are played with the supporting band Zulu, featuring Kevin Moore who would later be known as Keb' Mo'...
(1974) - Dragon Fly — Jefferson Starship (1974)
- Red OctopusRed OctopusRed Octopus is a 1975 album by Jefferson Starship. It was the best-selling album by any incarnation of Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off groups, and the single "Miracles" hit #3 on the Billboard charts, being the biggest hit single the band had until that point...
— Jefferson Starship (1975) - I'm The Fiddle ManI'm the Fiddle ManI'm the Fiddle Man is Papa John's fourth solo album and the first with Buddah Records. The album was recorded after Papa John Creach left Jefferson Starship following the successful album, Red Octopus. The supporting band on this album is known as Midnight Sun, and had a similar lineup to Zulu on...
(1975) - Rock FatherRock FatherRock Father is Papa John Creach's fifth solo album and his last with Buddah Records. The tracks are recorded with the band Midnight Sun, with the same lineup that played on I'm the Fiddle Man.-Track listing:...
(1976) - The Cat and the FiddleThe Cat and the Fiddle (album)The Cat and the Fiddle is Papa John Creach's sixth solo album and his first with DJM Records. Bryan Tilford and Mark Leon who performed in the band Midnight Sun on Rock Father return for this album, but Kevin Moore otherwise known as Keb' Mo' moved on and was replaced on this album with Joey...
(1977) - InphasionInphasionInphasion is Papa John Creach's seventh solo album and his last with DJM Records. Creach would not record another studio album until 1992.-Side One:#"Inphasion" – 4:33#"Night Fire" – 4:49#"To Fill the Need" – 4:38#"Hezakiah" – 4:04...
(1978) - Historic Live TunaHistoric Live TunaHistoric Live Tuna is a Hot Tuna album released in 1985 with side A containing some previously unreleased tracks from a live acoustic performance played on KSAN radio in 1971 and with side B containing some previously unreleased live material from a live electric performance in 1971 recorded at the...
(1985) — Hot Tuna - I Predict 1990I Predict 1990I Predict 1990 is the fourth album by singer/songwriter Steve Taylor. Lyrically, the album explores actions that exploit others to various ends from multiple perspectives. CCM magazine found that the overall theme is that the ends never justify the means. It was released as a one-off on Myrrh...
- Steve Taylor (1987) - Papa BluesPapa BluesPapa Blues is Papa John Creach's 1992 album, his final studio album his only album released after the 1970s.-Track listing:#"Sweet Life Blues" – 4:15#"Bumble Bee Blues" – 5:17#"Old Fashioned Papa" – 5:03...
(1992) - Best Of Papa John Creach (1994)
- Long Branch Park 1983 (2011)