Papa John Creach & The Midnight Sun I’m The Fiddle Man – 1975 Funk/ Soul / Bayou Funk (vinyl)

Papa John Creach & The Midnight Sun I’m The Fiddle Man – 1975 Funk/ Soul / Bayou Funk (vinyl)

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John Henry Creach (May 28, 1917 February 22, 1994),[1]better known as Papa John Creach, was an Americanbluesviolinist, who has also played “classical, jazz, be-bop, R&B, pop and acid rock” music.[2]Early in his career he played withLouis Armstrong,Fats Waller,Stuff Smith, andCharlie Christianas well asBig Joe Turner,T-Bone Walker,Nat King ColeandRoy Milton,[2]

Later, he played forJefferson Airplane(19701972),Hot Tuna,Jefferson Starship,Jefferson Starship – The Next Generation, theSan Francisco All-Stars(19791984),The Dinosaurs(19821989) andSteve Taylor. Creach recorded a number of solo albums and was a frequent guest atGrateful DeadandCharlie Daniels Bandconcerts. He was a regular guest at the early annualVolunteer Jams, hosted by Charlie Daniels, which exposed him to a new audience that was receptive to fiddle players.[3]

Life and career

Creach was born atBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania.[1]As a child, he was introduced to the violin by an uncle, and he received both tutoring in the instrument and conservatory training.[2]He began playing violin in Chicago bars after his family moved there in 1935, and also did some symphonic work when he was in his early 20’s, which was unusual for a black musician at the time.[2]At one point, he joined a local cabaret trio called the Chocolate Music Bars, and toured the Midwest with them.[1]

According to Creach, knowing how to play in a variety of style was a necessity to survive as a musician in Chicago at the time:

[B]ecause of all the nationalities [there], I had to learn to play everything. At some jobs it was strictly German music, or Polish. Now, they used to dance and knock holes in the floor.[2]

He had some difficulty in learning to play jazz violin, having to adjust his bowing technique, but was helped when he purchased an electric violin in 1943.

Moving to Los Angeles in 1945, he played in the Chi Chi Club, worked on anocean linerfor five years,[2]appeared in several films,[4]including withNat King ColeinFritz Lang’sThe Blue Gardenia,[2]and performed as a duo with Nina Russell.

In 1967, Creach met and befriended drummerJoey Covington. When Covington joined theJefferson Airplanein 1970, he introduced Creach to them, and he was invited to joinHot Tuna,Jorma KaukonenandJack Casady’s side band. Though regarded as asession musician, he remained with the band for four years, before leaving in 1974 to joinJefferson Starshipand record on their first album,Dragon Fly. Creach toured with Jefferson Starship and played on the band’s hit albumRed Octopusin 1975. Around 1976, Creach left to pursue a solo career. Despite this, he was a guest musician on the spring 1978 Jefferson Starship tour.

A year later, Creach renewed his working relationship with Covington as a member of theSan Francisco All-Stars, as well as with Covington’s Airplane predecessor,Spencer Dryden, as a member ofThe Dinosaurs. He also continued occasional guest appearances with Hot Tuna, and was on stage at theFillmore Auditoriumin 1988 whenJack CasadyandJorma Kaukonenof Hot Tuna reunited withPaul KantnerandGrace Slickfor the first time since Jefferson Airplane disbanded.

In 1992, he became one of the original members ofJefferson Starship – The Next Generationand performed with them until he succumbed to congestive heart failure on February 22, 1994. A heart condition had been causing bouts of pneumonia from continual fluid build-up in his lungs. He was 76.[5]

Jefferson Starship performed a benefit concert to raise money for his family after his death, and released tracks from their performances as the albumDeep Space/Virgin Sky.

Label:Buddah Records BDS 5649Format:Vinyl, LP, AlbumCountry:USReleased:1975Genre:Funk / Soul,Folk, World, & CountryStyle:Bayou Funk,Free Funk,Disco
Sleeve Condition (Out of 10) ~7 -worn front and back – crease on back
Label Condition (Out of 10) ~8 slightly faded
Vinyl Condition ~ (Out of 10)
Side 1 -10
side 2 – 10
BIN # *42

Tracklist