Skip Prokop, co-founder of the ground-breaking Canadian band Lighthouse, has passed away.
The 74-year-old Hamilton native, who made his home in Aylmer for several years, had experienced heart problems in the years leading to his passing.
After playing with the psychedelic rock band The Paupers, Prokop founded Lighthouse with Paul Hoffert in 1968, creating a band that married rock with jazz and classical styles. Prokop played drums and sang, while Hoffert played keyboards. The pair filled out the band by recruiting another 11 musicians.
"There's no doubt about it that Lighthouse was the first fusion band," said Brenda Hoffert, the band's manager and wife of Paul Hoffert. "That's really what the band invented and nobody did it better."
Lighthouse released its first album, 'Lighthouse', in 1969. The band achieved mainstream success in 1971 with the release of hit singles 'Hats Off To The Stranger' and 'One Fine Morning.'
But it was clear to many in 1969 that Prokop and his bandmates were creating something special that would influence other musicians for years to come.
"We met with Teo Macero, Miles Davis' producer. They were at the Newport Jazz Festival and Lighthouse was performing," said Brenda Hoffert. "We met with him (Teo) several years ago and he was telling us the story about how he was with Miles and Miles was on that same bill with Lighthouse and was totally blown away by Lighthouse. He just thought they were absolutely amazing. His next album was 'Bitches Brew' and he was very influenced by hearing Lighthouse and being exposed to that whole concept of the (rock-jazz) fusion."
More chart success would follow in 1972 with the single 'Sunny Days' and in 1973 with 'Pretty Lady.'
Hoffert says there was something about Prokop's drumming that set him apart from other percussionists.
"He didn't just play the drums, he played music with his drums," she said. "That was just so incredible to hear him play. When I listen back, even now, to the old recordings I'm still so blown away by his technique. But it was more than technique, it was his ability to tell a story with his drumming."
Prokop had to officially give up touring with Lighthouse in 2013 because of his health issues. His last public performance with the band was in 2014. His son, Jamie, took over drumming duties for the band.
Hoffert adds that she, along with so many others, will miss her friend dearly.
"You would need a book the size of an encyclopedia to talk about Skip, because he was a very complex person. But I would say he was a person of great spiritual depth and love, and musicality, all rolled up into one ball. He had very strong viewpoints about things and the way he wanted things done. But he totally had a heart of gold."
