Prakash John

Prakash John (born August 1, 1947) is a Canadian rock bassist.

Born in Bombay, India, John was a student at the Cathedral and John Connon School, enrolling at the age of four in 1951. He migrated to Toronto in 1960.

John's first musical influences were in India, both in the Indian music he heard in Bombay and Western classical music, such as that of J.S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, and Charles Wesley and which he heard both in his Protestant church and in school. On coming to Canada, he came into contact with African American music which then became his primary influence.

John started playing bass at the age of 17. His first high school band was named The Questions. John quickly moved on to his first paying gig with a beat group called The Bounders, which was renamed The Press Gang in 1965. The following year John formed his first R&B group, The Trikq, which served as the rhythm section for John's next collaboration in 1967 with George Olliver & The Soul Children. John completed his first recording with The Majestics, a local nightclub band. In 1969, John joined Bush. Bush, the successor to Canadian band Mandala, was largely the brainchild of two Canadians, drummer Pentti 'Whitey' Glan and guitarist Domenic Troiano; although Bush only lasted a year and a half, its influence among rock musicians was significant.

After two albums with Bush, the second released under Troiano's name as a debut album, John became a respected player in the Los Angeles scene, playing with Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer of (White Trash) as well as Bobby Whitlock (Derek & the Dominos). At the same time, John was active as a teacher; among his pupils were Nick St. Nicholas (Steppenwolf), Kenny Gradney (Delaney & Bonnie and Little Feat), and Rosemary Butler (Birtha).

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