Skip Prokop facts for kids

Ronald Harry "Skip" Prokop was a talented Canadian musician. He was born on December 13, 1943, and passed away on August 30, 2017. Skip played drums, guitar, and keyboard. He was also a band leader. Skip helped start two famous Canadian rock bands: The Paupers and Lighthouse.

Growing Up: Skip's Early Life

Skip Prokop was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He went to G.L. Armstrong and Hill Park schools. Skip was part of the Navy League and Sea Cadets. When he was 17, he played drums in a special group. This group won a big national drumming contest in Canada!

Skip's Musical Journey

Starting The Paupers

Skip moved to Toronto and formed a band called The Paupers. They started playing music in coffee houses in Yorkville. Later, The Paupers performed in New York City. They even played at the famous U.S. Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

The Paupers had a manager named Albert Grossman. He introduced Skip to another musician, Al Kooper. Grossman asked Skip to leave The Paupers. He wanted Skip to play drums with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield. They recorded a live blues-rock album together. It was called The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper.

Playing with Famous Artists

Skip Prokop played drums for many recording sessions. He worked with Janis Joplin after she left her band. This happened because Albert Grossman asked Skip to help form a new band for Janis. Skip also played with Carlos Santana and the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.

Forming Lighthouse

In 1969, Skip Prokop helped create a new rock group. He started the band Lighthouse with Paul Hoffert. Their first concert in Toronto was in May of that year. Lighthouse played music until 1975. They performed all over the world. The band also won several Juno Awards, which are big music awards in Canada.

Skip wrote a song called "I'd Be So Happy." The famous band Three Dog Night recorded it in 1974. It was on their album Hard Labor. The song was also included on their greatest hits album.

Lighthouse had a special reunion concert in 1982. It took place at Ontario Place in Toronto.

Later Music and Radio Work

In the mid-1980s, Skip worked for Roland Canada. This company makes musical instruments. He was a product specialist and went on tours. He showed off Roland's products with his own Skip Prokop Band.

Skip also played drums in a rock/funk/Christian band called Mercy Train. This band was based in London, Ontario. In 2012, he released a smooth jazz album. It was called The Smooth Side Of Skip Prokop.

When Lighthouse was not active, Skip worked in radio. He hosted a show called Rock and a Hard Place on CFNY-FM in Toronto. In the early 2000s, he sold advertising for radio stations CJBX, CIQM, and CJBK. Skip Prokop lived in Aylmer, Ontario around 2010.

He passed away on August 30, 2017, at the age of 73.

Albums

• All Growed Up (1977)
• in the center of... (2005)
• Smoothside (2012)

Singles

• "Sunny New Orleans" (1977)
• "Gotta Hear You Say It Too" (1978)