Prakash John

Prakash John (born August 1, 1947) is a Canadian rock bassist.

Born in Bombay, India, John immigrated to Toronto in 1960. In Bombay, John had been a student at the Cathedral and John Connon School, a British school with many well-known alumni.

A late bloomer, he picked up his instrument for the first time 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 an 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 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 as a member of Parliament/Funkadelic.

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 also appeared in the film Blues Brothers 2000.

John is presently directing his eldest son Jordan, a musician and vocalist, and living in the Toronto area.

Bibliography

John, Prakash. Autobiography written 2008.

Slater, Joshua A. Interviews with John family members including Jordan P. John, Prakash John, Edwina Trick. Conducted 2000 - 2007, 2008.

Discography

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

Alice Cooper Welcome to my Nightmare

Alice Cooper Lace and Whiskey

Alice Cooper The Alice Cooper Show

Alice Cooper Dada

The Lincolns Take One

The Lincolns Funky, Funky, Funky

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/domenic_troiano/prakash.html] A lengthy interview after Troiano's death.
* [http://www.thelincolns.ca] Website for The Lincolns