Showing posts with label Lighthouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lighthouse. Show all posts

Monday, February 28, 2022

Happy Mardi Gras! Videos by Skip Prokop, Derek Miller, Big Smoke Brass




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Thursday, May 13, 2021

SOCAN Awards to Honour Local Visionaries


The 32nd SOCAN Awards will be handed out on the week of May 24, 2021 but SOCAN recently announced the winners of a series of new Guardian Awards. These awards are to honour people who helped boost Canadian music over the years. It's all part of the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Content (aka CanCon) rules. A number of amazing local people got the nod.

Here is a complete list of winners - area ones are bolded:

Those with an asterisk (*) are Canadian Independent Record Production Association co-founders
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Sunday, December 6, 2020

King Biscuit Boy with Crowbar's Official Music Turns 50!


This year (2020), Official Music, the legendary album by King Biscuit Boy with Crowbar turns 50 years old. It was the explosive debut for both Crowbar and King Biscuit Boy, who sang lead on all the tracks. The recording featured the late, great Biscuit's biggest hit - his definitive cover of Corrina, Corrina as its first single.

Details: 

Local Musician Comments

Original Crowbar Guitarist John Gibbard
There was little, if any pre-production work done before recording Official Music. Most of the material had been worked up while we were performing as "And Many Others", Ronnie Hawkins backup band.
It was a pretty loose session. I remember there was a galvanized metal tub filled with ice and beer on the floor of the studio.
The Dr. Music players joined in at one point, and audibly arranged horn parts etc. 'on the fly'. Their input made a huge difference!
It was a rare air experience for me, as it was my first recording session.

Paul Panchezak (Trickbag drummer, played in a touring version of Crowbar as well as King Biscuit Boy's solo band)

I first heard this record when it received an exclusive preview by Nevin Grant on CKOC

Bob Bryden (singer, guitarist for the Canadian band, Christmas)

(Official Music is) still a knock-out. It was the success of this album which led Daffodil to also sign Christmas. We opened for Richard several times. 

Peter Temple

I had this album as a kid. (I still have the vinyl copy). I was dabbling in both guitar and harp. It was this album that turned me toward playing Harp as my primary instrument. Richard was as important to me as Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, and Charlie Musselwhite were.

I remember woodshedding to 'Biscuit Boogie', 'Hoy, Hoy Hoy', 'Corrina, Corrina' to name a few. That was no easy task, to sit in the basement, picking up the stylus and putting it down over and over again to figure out what he was doing. It was may fav band, & album for a couple of years till Biscuit left.

The first time I heard him live, was when I was 16. It was at the Sauble Beach Pavillion. The 'King' title was very appropriate at the time. He was among the best. I recall meeting Richard at 'The Station Hotel' in Kitchener. This was approx around 1990, and he was in his final few years. He had declined a little bit, but was excellent in the 2nd set. We sat and talked between sets, and it was a wonderful time, sitting with one of my harmonica hero/mentors. 

Its too bad he had some demons that he could not overcome, however, I remember all the positives, and how great he was, and basically what a nice guy he was. And yes he could also sing really well. RIP Richard Newell AKA King Biscuit Boy, 

Our mini-review:

This album is arguably the best Canadian Blues album of all time. Biscuit and the boys were firing on all cylinders and helped make a musical statement that Hamilton was the Great White North's home of the Blues. A must for all serious Blues fans.

 

Links: King Biscuit Boy, More KBB Stories, Crowbar, More Crowbar Stories, Videos above courtesy of King Biscuit Boy, Crowbar - Topic, More Album 50th Anniversaries

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Friday, September 1, 2017

Lighthouse Founder Skip Prokop Passes


It is our sad to duty to announce the passing of one of Hamilton's biggest rock legends.  Lighthouse drummer (and founder) Skip Prokop passed away  recently due to heart issues. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.

The Hamilton-born drummer's illustrious career included a stint in the band the Paupers and Mike Bloomfield, writing for Three Dog Night, being a radio host, platinum-selling records with Lighthouse as well as playing the legendary Monterey Pop and Isle of Wight festivals.

Click here for visitation/funeral information

Click here for the Spectator story.

 Click here for the CHCH video story.

Here are a few comments from social media:

Mark Logan (Busted Flat Records)
I only had the chance to meet Skip Prokop once. I was working with Matt Andersen at a festival in Burlington and Lighthouse was headlining. I was hanging around backstage when Skip arrived, looked around for a bit and then smiled and came over. Initially I thought he mistook me for someone else, but we chatted briefly and it became apparent that he chose me to chat with as I was the only other 'longhair' there. He was extremely nice and didn't mind answering a bunch of fanboy type questions. Their show that night was outstanding ! I since had the good fortune to transcribe a bit of audio that was being used to put together his autobiography. What stories ! It was all about his pre-Lighthouse band the Paupers and them travelling to the US and working with Albert Grossman and playing Monterey. I look forward to reading the rest of the book when it's finished. Skip was the real deal !! R.I.P.
The Paupers were one of the greatest Canadian bands ever. Their 'Magic People' album is truly timeless. Among their many innovations, when the bass player and lead guitarist would periodically play drum sets along with drummer Skip Prokop, it constituted a stunning musical and visual outburst. Skip went on to form the more well known 'big band', Lighthouse. I am truly saddened to hear of his passing today.
Derek Downham
My career as a drummer who sings owes a lot to Skip Prokop, a true trailblazer of the craft. Thank you for the inspiration, conviction, and deep hustling and fearless beats. R.I.P. 

Previous (Cool New Website - Hamilton: City of Music) - - - Next (News Roundup: Shipley Hollow, Ron Sexsmith, CHCH Videos, Captain Canuck)
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Thursday, February 12, 2015

News Roundup (Monarch Project, Michael Maguire, Ariana Gillis, Lighthouse)

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Sunday, December 1, 2013

New Sonny Del-Rio Compilation CD: Blow Your Horn Man!

http://www.emusic.com/album/sonny-del-rio/blow-your-horn-man/12994788/
Hamilton music veteran Sonny Del-Rio made a name for himself playing fabulous music for over 50 years.  His latest release, Blow Your Horn Man! is a "best of" compilation of some of the saxman's greatest work.

It's hard to create a CD that encapsulates such a storied career but Blow Your Horn Man! succeeds quite well.  Not only is it a wonderful historical document - its a kick ass disc as well.  The album was even nominated for a Hamilton Music Award this year.

Compiled from many of his solo CDs and other sources, it features work with such luminaries as Trickbag, King Biscuit Boy, Jack Pedler (Teenage Head), Neil Nickafor, Mike Williams, Dan Thomas (Hammertones), Jesse O'Brien and many more.

As an added bonus, there's an amazing unrelased holiday tune, Merry Christmas to You, where Sonny teams up with a who's who of the Hamilton music scene: Tom Wilson, Dave Rave, Skip Prokop (Lighthouse), Jude Johnson, Ray Materick, Harrison Kennedy, and others.

You can pick this CD at any of Sonny's live shows or download it through eMusic or iTunes.

Video below courtesy of Jim Unsworth.



Video below courtesy of Canada Jams



Blast from the Past: Sonny Del-Rio and We Got Blues@Boon's House

Links: Sonny Del Rio, More Sonny Del Rio Stories, More CD Releases
Previous (Videos from Locke Street Fest w Uncorked, Mike Vallely, Banned From Heaven, and B.O.B.) - - - Next (Videos of Alex MacDougall Tribute, Part 1 - Mike Blackborow, Sonny Del-Rio, Brian Blain, Tim Gibbons)
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