Musician. Born John Henry Creach in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, he was a veteran violinist of jazz and blues, who first came to the notice of rock fans when he joined the band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off group, Hot Tuna in 1970. Using an electrified violin, he added a new psychedelic edge to the Airplane's music. When the group broke up in 1972, he began to release solo albums and joined the reorganized Jefferson Starship, being a part of their million-selling "Red Octopus" album in 1975. He also performed and recorded with artists to include Marty Balin, Jerry Garcia, Pete Sears, Jack Casady, Joey Covington and Sammy Piazza. Early in his career, he performed as a journeyman musician with Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Stuff Smith, Charlie Christian, Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Nat King Cole, and Roy Milton. He died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California, at age 76.
Musician. Born John Henry Creach in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, he was a veteran violinist of jazz and blues, who first came to the notice of rock fans when he joined the band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off group, Hot Tuna in 1970. Using an electrified violin, he added a new psychedelic edge to the Airplane's music. When the group broke up in 1972, he began to release solo albums and joined the reorganized Jefferson Starship, being a part of their million-selling "Red Octopus" album in 1975. He also performed and recorded with artists to include Marty Balin, Jerry Garcia, Pete Sears, Jack Casady, Joey Covington and Sammy Piazza. Early in his career, he performed as a journeyman musician with Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Stuff Smith, Charlie Christian, Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Nat King Cole, and Roy Milton. He died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California, at age 76.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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