PAPA JOHN CREACH
Genres: RnB, Blues • United States

Papa John Creach was one the best known blues violinists of the 20th century, through his membership in the Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, the Jefferson Starship, and his solo recordings.  Skilled equally in pop, rock, jazz, and blues, he played with a rough edged warm tone and wild hot trilling solo licks.  The Blues Foundation honored Papa John as an outstanding blues musician in 1993 with the W. C. Handy Award.   His most noted tracks are "String Jet Rock" (1971), "99 Year Blues" (1972), "Git Fiddler" (1975), and "Sweet Life Blues" (1992). John Henry Creach was born in Beaver Falls, Pa., in 1917 into a family of five brothers and four sisters.  Members of his musical family played piano, guitar, bass, and drums.  His uncle, a merchant seaman, on a visit to Beaver Falls, brought a violin he purchased in Europe.  After hearing his read more...