Jack Casady facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack Casady |
|
|---|---|
Casady playing his signature bass with Hot Tuna in 2005
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John William Casady |
| Born | April 13, 1944 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, blues |
| Instruments | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Associated acts | Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, Moonalice, Jimi Hendrix, SVT, Roky Erickson |
John William Casady (born April 13, 1944) is an American bass guitarist. He is best known for being a member of two famous bands: Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. Jefferson Airplane was a very important band in the "San Francisco Sound" music scene. Their songs "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" were big hits in 1967 and 1968. Jack Casady and the other members of Jefferson Airplane were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Casady was born in Washington D.C. His father was of Irish and Polish Jewish background. His mother's family had been in North America since the 1600s.
Jack first played as a lead guitarist in a rhythm and blues band called The Triumphs. He switched to playing the bass guitar during his high school years. Even before he was old enough, he played in clubs in Washington D.C. He backed up famous artists like Little Anthony and the Imperials.
Joining Jefferson Airplane (1965–1972)
Jack Casady became the bass player for Jefferson Airplane in September 1965. His high school friend, Jorma Kaukonen, who was the lead guitarist, invited him to join. Jack replaced the band's first bass player, Bob Harvey.
Casady's bass playing was special. He didn't just play simple rhythms. He explored new melodic ideas with his bass. You can hear his unique style on the band's first album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966).
On their live album Bless Its Pointed Little Head (1968), you can hear Casady's unique "walking line" style. He used a special amplifier that gave his bass a distinct "growling" sound. Later, he used a custom-made Alembic bass. Fans even called him "God" because of his amazing sound.
Some of Casady's most famous bass parts are on songs like "White Rabbit" (from Surrealistic Pillow, 1967). He also played on "Crown of Creation" (from Crown of Creation, 1968). His playing often mixed jazz and Indian music styles into rock. In live shows, Casady would play long, different bass solos. He also played with other musicians, like Jimi Hendrix. He played bass on Hendrix's song "Voodoo Chile" in 1968. He also played with other San Francisco bands like Grateful Dead.
Forming Hot Tuna
In 1969, Casady and Jorma Kaukonen started a new band called Hot Tuna. They still perform together today! Hot Tuna has changed its style over the years. They have played acoustic blues, electric rock, and even heavy metal.
Casady's bass playing fits perfectly with both acoustic and electric music. His solo on "Candy Man" (from Hot Tuna's First Pull Up, Then Pull Down, 1971) shows how he can play a melody, not just a rhythm. On the 1972 album Burgers, he played a sparkling instrumental song called "Water Song." Casady called this song "lead bass" because his bass played the main melody.
Other Bands and Projects
In the late 1970s, Hot Tuna took a break. Casady then helped start a band called SVT. This band played a "New Wave" style, which was very different from Hot Tuna. He even taped his fingers together to make himself play a simpler style of music.
During the 1980s, Casady also joined former Jefferson Airplane members Paul Kantner and Marty Balin in the KBC Band.
Jefferson Starship (1992–2000)
In 1992, Jack joined Paul Kantner's new version of Jefferson Starship. He played on their albums Deep Space / Virgin Sky and Windows of Heaven. In 2000, Casady left Jefferson Starship. This was after a disagreement about using the name "Jefferson Airplane."
Solo Album and Bass Design
In 2003, Casady released his first solo album, called Dream Factor. Many other musician friends helped him make this album.
Today, besides playing with Hot Tuna, Casady teaches bass workshops. He teaches at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio. He also helped design a special bass guitar called the "Jack Casady Signature Bass" with Epiphone. It's a hollow-body electric bass with a unique sound.
Moonalice
In 2007, Casady joined a new band called Moonalice. Other members include Pete Sears and G. E. Smith. Their first album came out in 2009.
Casady's Musical Style
Jack Casady is known for the powerful sound and tone of his bass playing. He believes that tone is the most important quality for a bass player. He says, "Tone is your signature as to who you are... The music builds around the tone." He feels that a great musician's unique sound comes from their tone.
Discography
Jack Casady
- Dream Factor (2003)
Jefferson Airplane
- Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966)
- Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
- After Bathing at Baxter's (1967)
- Crown of Creation (1968)
- Bless Its Pointed Little Head (1969)
- Volunteers (1969)
- Bark (1971)
- Long John Silver (1972)
- Thirty Seconds Over Winterland (1973)
- Jefferson Airplane (1989)
- Live at the Fillmore East (1998)
- Sweeping Up the Spotlight (2007)
- The Woodstock Experience (2009)
Hot Tuna
- Hot Tuna (1970)
- First Pull Up, Then Pull Down (1971)
- Burgers (1972)
- The Phosphorescent Rat (1974)
- America's Choice (1975)
- Yellow Fever (1975)
- Hoppkorv (1976)
- Double Dose (1978)
- Pair a Dice Found (1990)
- Live at Sweetwater (1992)
- Live at Sweetwater Two (1993)
- Live in Japan (1997)
- And Furthurmore... (1999)
- Steady as She Goes (2011)
- Bear's Sonic Journals: Before We Were Them (2019)
Jefferson Starship
- Deep Space/Virgin Sky (1995)
- Windows of Heaven (1999)
Moonalice
- Moonalice (2009)
Michael Falzarano
- A Kaleidoscope Christmas (2020)
See also
In Spanish: Jack Casady para niños
