Lighthouse was gradually becoming a North American force to be reckoned with. They were making in-roads on tour on both sides of the border having performed a city-wide tour with the Winnipeg Ballet, played at Carnegie Hall in New York, The Isle of Wight Festival with Jimi Hendrix, the Atlantic City Pop Music Festival, and Expo 70 in Japan. In a short 18 months, Lighthouse had released three studio albums for RCA Records. They were a live sensation, but they weren’t selling a lot of albums. Something needed to change.
Archive for Skip Prokop
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 10) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags Bob McBride, Bruce Bell, Carnegie Hall, Columbia Recording Studio, Ed LaBuick, Evolution Records, Expo 70, Grant Fullterton, GRT Records, Hats Off To The Stranger, Isle of Wight, Jimmy Ienner, Keith Jollimore, Lighthouse, Mud Flat, One Fine Morning, Pinky Dauvin, RCA Records, Ross Reynolds, Skip Prokop, Sunny Days, Vinnie Fusco on June 1, 2020 by segariniSUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 9) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Review, Serialized Book with tags Al Kooper, Bob Segarini, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Duke Ellington, Hertz Car Rentals, Howard Shore, Jaimie Vernon, Janis Joplin, Lighthouse, MGM Records, Mike Bloomfield, music, Paul Hoffert, Peter Csanky, Ralph Cole, RCA Records, Skip Prokop, Super Session, The Paupers, The Rockpile, Vinnie Fusco on May 25, 2020 by segarini
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 8) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags albert Grossman, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Bill Graham, Bob Segarini, Caesar's Palace, Carlos Santana, Cass Elliot, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Electric Circus, Electric Flag, Fillmore West, Harvey Brooks, Jaimie Vernon, Janis Joplin, Lighthouse, Mike Bloomfield, music, Paul Hoffert, Ralph Cole, Records, Sam Andrew, Skip Prokop, Steve Miller, Supersession, The Paupers on May 18, 2020 by segarini
Through most of 1968, Skip Prokop’s band The Paupers had been touring with new bass player Brad Campbell as they were making their way through recording and releasing their second album for MGM Records called “Ellis Island.” But Skip was getting a taste for session work and expanding his musical horizons beyond a 4-piece rock and roll ensemble. It was leading him to decisions that would change his life and Canadian music forever…
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 7 by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags albert Grossman, Album 1700, Bernie Finkelstein, Bob Segarini, Brad Campbell, Cafe Au Go Go, cream, DBAWIS, Denny Gerrard, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Elvin Bishop, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Grant Spence, Greenwich Village, I Dig Rock and Roll Music, Jack Bruce, Jaimie Vernon, Johnny Rivers, Linda McCartney, Lovin' Spoonful, Monterey Pop Festival, Paul Butterfield, Paul McCartney, Peter Paul & Mary, Peter Steinback, Phil Ramone, Skip Prokop, The Flick, The Paupers, The Youngbloods, Toronto, Whisky a Go Go, Zal Yanovsky on May 4, 2020 by segarini
Skip Prokop and his band The Paupers were on their way to the ‘big game’ when they had two back-to-back blows. Their appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival in the summer of 1967 was an unmitigated disaster and the band’s long-time Canadian manager, Bernie Finkelstein, left the group in the hands of U.S. Uber-manager Albert Grossman. Grossman wasn’t going to let these setbacks slow the band down. In fact, he had the guys become surrogate backing musicians for several artists in his illustrious music stable. This would prove to be the undoing of The Paupers as Skip found himself attracted to working with big name acts:
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 6) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags albert Grossman, Bernie Finkelstein, Bob Segarini, Brian Jones, Canadian Music, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Eric Burden & The Animals, Fillmore West, Grateful Dead, Jaimie Vernon, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Martha & The Vandellas, MGM, Monterey Pop Festival, Papa John Phillips, Records, Skip Prokop, The Association, The Paupers, Toronto on April 27, 2020 by segarini
In our previous installment, Yorkville Village heroes The Paupers had effectively ambushed New York City and taken the American music business by storm following their gigs at the Café Au-Go-Go. It landed them both a U.S. record deal with MGM/Verve-Folkways and a deal with Uber-manager Albert Grossman (Bob Dylan, The Band, Odetta, Peter Paul & Mary, Paul Butterfield, Janis Joplin). The wheels were in motion for The Paupers to conquer America. The band did a promotional tour across the U.S. to radio stations in preparation for the release of their debut album ‘Magic People’ and live dates to follow. Skip Prokop continues the story…
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 5) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags Adam Mitchell, Al Kooper, albert Grossman, Bernie Finkelstein, Blood Sweat and Tears, Bob Dylan, Bob Segarini, Bobby Columby, Brian Epstein, Cafe Au Go Go, Canadian Music, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Greenwich Village, Howard Solomon, If I Call You By Some Name, Jaimie Vernon, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Lovin' Spoonful, Magic People, New York, Odetta, Paul Butterfield, Peter Paul & Mary, Rick Shorter, Simple Deed, Skip Prokop, The Band, The Paupers, The Troggs, William Morris, Wilson Pickett, Yorkville Village on April 20, 2020 by segarini
Adam Mitchell was an integral new addition to The Paupers on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Bernie Finkelstein had come on board as manager and wasted no time getting the band signed to MGM Records stateside. It was a springboard for what was to come. Bernie wanted to showcase the band to their new American label. It meant heading to the USA.
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 4) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags Adam Mitchell, ARC Records, Bernie Finkelstein, Bill Gilliland, Bill Marion, Bob Segarini, Chuck Beal, Columbia Records, DBAWIS, Denny Gerrard, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Duff Roman, El Patio, Harvey Glatt, Jaimie Vernon, Mousehole Cafe, Pepsi Under 21, Red Leaf Records, Roman Records, Skip Prokop, The Hawk's Nest, The Paupers on April 6, 2020 by segarini
Skip Prokop and The Paupers were well on their way with a record deal on Red Leaf Records, songs on the radio, and a foot in the Yorkville coffee houses. It wouldn’t be long before the band was highly in demand and craving bigger and better rewards.
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 3) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in music, Serialized Book with tags Bev Davies, Big G Walters, Bill Marion, Bill Misener, Bob Segarini, Chuck Beal, CHUM, CKEY, DBAWIS, Denny Gerrard, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Duff Roman, El Patio, If I Told My Baby, J.B. & The Playboys, Jaimie Vernon, Jon & Lee & The Checkmates, Like You Like Me, Maple Leaf Gardens, Never Send You Flowers, Petula Clark, Red Leaf Records, Rolling Stones, Skip Prokop, The Big Town Boys, The Paupers, Tom Jones, Toronto, Varsity Stadium on March 30, 2020 by segarini
Skip Prokop (drums), Bill Misener (guitar vocals), Chuck Beal (guitar), and Denny Gerrard (bass) formed The Paupers on December 10, 1964. Skip picks up the story from here.
Bill moved to our house in Alderwood (south of the QEW near Browns Line) to stay with us, and he went home on the weekends. We would drive from Alderwood, New Toronto, over to Scarborough and we would practice in Chuck Beal’s basement because we could set up our equipment there. That’s where we really began to put the band together.
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 2) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in life, music, Serialized Book with tags Bill Marion, Bill Misener, Bob Cringan, Bob Segarini, Chuck Beal, David Bell, DBAWIS, Denny Gerrard, Dig Band, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Doug Guy, Fern Resort, Jaimie Vernon, Larry Sykes Music, Lighthouse, Optimists Drum & Bugle Corp, Paul Chabeau, Preston Scout House, Riverside 3, Ronn Prokope, Royal York Hotel, Skip Prokop, Skip Prokop Five, Sunny Days, The Beatles, The Paupers, The Spats, Toronto, Toronto Police Department, Waddington School of Music on March 23, 2020 by segarini
In last week’s installment of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story” our young drummer, Ronn Prokop (he had yet to adopt his nickname), was heading to the Preston Scout House to hone his drum corps chops. Suffice to say Skip would not only become quite adept at marching band drum skills, but became a reigning SIX time champion in Canada and the United States with the Optimists Drum & Bugle Corp.
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 1) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, life, music, Opinion, Review with tags accordion lessons, Bob Segarini, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, drum corp, Hamilton, Jaimie Vernon, Janis Joplin, Lighthouse, Mama Cass Elliot, Mike Bloomfield, music, Navy Cadets, One Fine Morning, Peter Paul & Mary, Pretty Lady, RCC Lions, Records, Scout House, Sea Cadets, Skip Prokop, Sunny Days, The Paupers, Toronto, Waddington's on March 9, 2020 by segarini
In 2012 I took on the task of interviewing internationally renowned drummer Skip Prokop on what we thought would be a quick set of sessions to lay down the most interesting stories from his impressive career as drummer for The Paupers and Lighthouse with side projects involving Peter Paul & Mary, Janis Joplin, Mama Cass Elliot, and Mike Bloomfield’s ‘Supersession.’
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 