Skip Prokop Founder, Singer and Drummer For Lighthouse Has Died
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2017
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lp.constantcontactpages.com/s... Skip Prokop Singer and Drummer For Lighthouse Has Died
At 73, last year, he retired from music because of health reasons and left Lighthouse in 2014.
Prokop was a major part of Lighthouse which was known as the world’s first 13-piece rock orchestra. He formed the band in Toronto with keyboardist Paul Hoffert in 1968.
In 1971 alone Lighthouse had three Top 40 hits, "Take It Slow (Out In The Country),” "Hats Off (To The Stranger)" and "One Fine Morning.” The latter two reaching the Top 10 in Canada. In 1972 “Sunny Days” reached #4 on the charts and “Pretty Lady” hit #9 the following year. Prokop wrote or co-wrote most of their big hits.
They won Juno Awards for Best Canadian Group of the Year in 1972, 1973 and 1974. They disbanded in the mid-seventies and reformed in the early 90's.
The band turned down a chance to play Woodstock but a year later they were voted top perfomers, along with Jimi Hendrix at the Isle of Wight music festival.
Prokop was born and raised in Hamilton Ontario. He was a drummer from way back winning The Canadian National Individual Drumming Competition at 17.
He told the IFPress last year his favorite moment was, “Probably Carnegie Hall . . . The place wasn’t full and we were playing this really beautiful song that had only orchestral sounds and the people started to boo and throw things . . . But then after we’d released the hits Hats Off To The Stranger and One Fine Morning (1971) and went back to Carnegie Hall, it was a totally different audience. It was sold out. They were fans and they paid a lot for their tickets. When we played 1849, they were . . . giving us a standing ovation . . . It gave me chills up and down my spine. I turned to Paul (co-founder Paul Hoffert) ‘We’ve made it buddy.’
Lighthouse lost their other lead singer Bob McBride in 1998. - by John Beaudin
John Beaudin has been in major market radio (Edmonton, Vancouver & Calgary) for 33 years and a music journalist since 1989. He graduated from Broadcasting school as a news man so he would have the skills to write about the artists that inspired him since he bought his first album, “Madman Across The Water” by Elton John as a teen. In the 80's Beaudin was the host of the syndicated radio show “The Cross Canada Report” which had two version (Rock and A/C). Beaudin was also asked to be a judge at the Juno Awards (Canada's answer to the Grammys) Twice. He has anchored every position in radio including morning and afternoon drive and was a Program and Music Director for The Breeze and California 103 in Calgary. He currently hosts the popular Lovesongs at QM-FM in Vancouver and on iHeartRadio.
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I have known him for the past 3 years and he hasn't been in the best health. I visited him in hospital the day before he died and he still joking around like himself. He is now in a better place.
Edit: Today was his funeral and it was beautiful! They played Sunny Days any many Lighthouse songs. He was wearing a shirt with himself on it and was holding drumsticks. He will be well remembered.
Listened to "Pretty Lady" more than once while recovering from open-heart surgery six years ago. Now, every time I hear that song I remember all I went through at that time. 63 now, plan to keep on trucking!
It used to be that there was nothin' finer in the world, you know, than lyin' in the sun with your radio. RIP Skip, with love from Toronto.
RIP Skip, such a sad loss, thank you for your great music
🌺From across Lake Erie Pretty Lady found me in Cleveland Ohio thru the Detroit CKLW radio station. It’s truly one of my very favorite songs and I listen to it often! My best to all of this band for making growing up in the 70s the best time of my life!❤️
My introduction to Prokop was his composition "I'd Be So Happy" by Three Dog Night. I then went out and found Lighthouse. Rest in peace...
awwwwwwwwww Found his phone # about 15 years ago.I'm in California & he in Eastern Canada..........I took a chance and called. He answered!! We talked for quite a while. loved, LOVED Lighthouse. Rest In Peace skip......
Sad that we're loosing all our legends. May he rest in peace.
Super talented Canadian band that should have garnered greater notoriety.. RIP Skip
He was an inspiration as my drum teacher when I was in a drum corps at 16. When he formed Lighthouse - I was ecstatic! He had worked so hard for many years and made it Junos and all!! Canada has lost an incredibly gifted musician. He inspired so many.
Now in my 70s, I feel very fortunate to have been raised during Rocks greatest era. A era which will never be equalled. As for Skip Prokop, for me he was legendary even before Lighthouse with the Paupers who I sought out in various smaller Toronto venues due to their earned popularity. Lighthouse, I remember from various venues but my favorite was seeing them at the arena in Aurora, Ontario firing on all cylinders with Prokop's outstanding percussion and Bob McBride's top notch vocals soaring over everything. Such a treat. Recently, Leonid and Friends, the amazing ensemble from Russia have released a One Fine Morning tribute. Find it here. You will love what justice those pros delivered to it. Made my day! As does virtually everything they touch.
I recall being a wide eyed grade 9 student at Hill Park high school, attending my very first concert there by Lighthouse, where Skip has previously attended. The sound just blew me away. The horns, Prokofiev on drums, McBride with his powerful vocals. What an introduction to live music
probably my favorite Canadian band... 'sitting stoned alone in my backyard... ' still one of my favorite lyrics and still trying to live the dream!!
Nice tribute! Peace and love Skip. . .
As a drummer, Skip Prokop is in the in the same stratosphere as drummers like Joe Malone, Buddy Rich, Steve Gad, Neal Peart and a few others. He was and is the most underrated great drummer of all time.
I’m just hearing this now in 2020 and it’s sad. I was a big fan of Prokop as a singer and a songwriter and a live performer. “Pretty Lady” and “sunny Days” are my two favorites, and he wrote and sang both. Jimmy Ienner worked so well with him and the band. Very sad, Skip was one of my heroes.
P.S. American fan here, mid-Atlantic, geography had nothing to do with my love for Lighthouse!
But horns did!
I first saw Lighthouse at the National Art Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1974. I've seen them several times since. RIP Skip.
Rock and roll heaven is really getting crowded these days.
Fantastic group, one of the top 5 in their era. Those were the days my friend, I hoped they'd never end. Skip, my friend, I knew you had passed on but was not sure when. I hope all 73 of your years were great ones.
Thanks for the tribute to one of Canada's best rock drummers and Skip may have been born in Hamilton but was not completely raised there. I'm now 72 years old and grew up in a part of Toronto called south Etobicoke where Skip lived with his family 2 blocks away from me. He had formed the Paupers and used to rehearse in his parents front room. I was in my mid teens and wanting to play drums so I used to watch through the porch window. He gave me my first set of drum sticks and we talked at a Lighthouse concert years later and he remembered doing that. Outspoken for that time but one of Canada's best ever.
Mr. Prokop got his start with the Paupers, an innovative Toronto rock quartet that took New York by storm in March 1967, and became the first Canadian band to land a U.S. album deal. He then recorded with Janis Joplin, performed with Cass Elliot and Carlos Santana, and became admired for his session work with Peter, Paul & Mary and Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield. But it was with Lighthouse, which released five best-selling albums and had four Top 10 singles including One Fine Morning, that he really made his mark.
In the U.S. Lighthouse had a Top 20 hit with "One Fine Morning", a Top 40 hit with "Sunny Days", and just barely missed the Top 40 with "Pretty Lady", my favorite by them. I heard all these songs on good old American Top 40 radio stations and Lighthouse was always a band I liked, was happily aware of and wanted to hear more of. All three songs were written by Skip Prokop, so he was a star in my musical universe. And he sang lead on the latter two hits. All three were also produced by the greatJimmy Ienner, who when he produced Three Dog Night gave them Skip's "I'd Be So Happy", so that's how that connection happened. I was very saddened to hear about Skip's death. I will miss his positive, cheerful energy and immense talent. May he rest in peace.
I wish American FM would have played some of their songs!
They were too busy playing "Stairway to Heaven" 5,000,000 times.
First saw Skip Prokop in 1966 when The Paupers opened for The Lovin Spoonful at the Memorial Centre in Kingston. I was 11, that was my first concert. In those days you could walk right up to the stage. They all dressed in black suits. Got a drumstick from him, was a big fat one and he used the handle end to beat with ........I was impressed..... he was the guy I wanted to be like.
Got to see them in 72 in Massey Hall. They were a great live band!
John ! I'm your newest American fan ! This is the first I've heard about Skip Prokop passing. Ironically..this last year I was able to find in my little Ohio town...5 Lighthouse albums, the first Paupers album, Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield at The Fillmore West, and Skip's 1972 solo album...all on near mint vinyl. What a talent ! RIP Skip.
RIP to a great singer/drummer. Check out his solo/fills in "The Magic's in the Dancing".
At 10 years old, I listened to Lighthouse nonstop. I saw them twice in concert and was certain I’d marry Skip Prokop, drawing his picture all the time. Oh the crush I had on him. Such a talented musician. He will be missed. RIP Skip Prokop. You were my musical hero!
Long Time Fan, Have all the Vinle. Thanks For This!!!
Want One Fine Morning at my funeral
That was sung by Bob McBride
Caught Lighthouse at the Fillmore East back in the early 70's. Splendid concert.
That's the only LP of theirs that I owned. That must have been a blast to actually be there.
Loved Lighthouse. Skip will be missed ❤
Sorry you passed man but you were a fine writer and great drummer. The Paupers were great and Lighthouse.
I remember him for a radio show he hosted called A Rock And A Hard Place on CFNY 102.1 FM that played Christian Rock. it was always cool and laid back show that i got to hear a very interesting musical form and a good measure of Canadian Christian Rock Bands. i do know the hits from Lighthouse that rocked too.
Thanks for all the great music Skip !
So sad love to listen to them in the early 70s
Canada has given us some great bands. April Wine, The Guess Who, Lighthouse, Angelica, Rush....to name a few.
Neil Young, Great Big Sea, Chillawak, Arcade Fire and of course we just lost Robbie Robertson
RIP Skip
That's so sad😢😢😩😨😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😞😞😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😟😱
Dude, you forgot to mention Skip had another good band before Lighthouse. They were called The Paupers.
I consider myself relatively knowledgeable about rock history, and I've honestly never heard this band. Perhaps it's because success in the US eluded them. Regardless, I'm going to have to check them out now.
You'll be glad you did. :-)
PDXguitarfreak I'm with you, never heard of them.
Disagreeable man oh my his rolls ruled I’m a drummer I got the pretty lady album in 1974 I was 14 I’m 64 now and still drum a unique style and skip is in there somewhere I’m from Vermont not many people here know them or at least have the album also it came with a poster
Canada's answer too Chicago
Why can't I find cause of death?
He smoked heavily this caused heart issues years after he quit
They broke up and reunited in 1982, not in the 90s
SKIPPY!!!!!!!!!!!! R I P, I HOPE U R STOPPING BY MY OLD MAN'S BAR UPSTAIRS!!!!!!!
Greg Brady will be upset!
Use to baby sit me. Supposed to have been police csdet