Papa John Creach

 

Another man who stands out in my memory is Papa John Creach, who played electric violin – an instrument that I had never heard of previously – for Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna beginning in 1970; he also stuck it out with Jefferson Starship through the Red Octopus album.  He provided an added dimension to these 1960's stalwarts, and the presence of that gray hair in the midst of the much younger musicians in the two bands made it clear that you didn't have to be a kid to rock out.

 

(August 2011)