Joey Covington, from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is probably best known for his membership in both Jefferson Airplane, replacing Spencer Dryden, and as the first drummer for Hot Tuna. By the mid-60’s, Joey had been drumming for several years, mainly in bands opening local shows for The Rolling Stones, Chad and Jeremy, and The Dave Clark Five among them, and also on package tours, the biggest being Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars. By late 1966 he’d relocated to Los Angeles, almost immediately being discovered by Kim Fowley who’d produce a single, a cover of The Who’s “Boris the Spider.” Joey formed several bands around this time, including one with Mickey Rooney Jr. named Tsong. On a visit to the Los Angeles Musicians Union, he met and befriended a man who would in turn become known to a generation of music fans who’d never heard of him despite his 30+ years as a journeyman musician. Like Joey, he too was from Pennsylvania, from the town of Beaver Falls. His name: John Henry PAPA John Creach.

John Creach, who we lost 30 years ago this week, fell in love with the violin upon hearing his uncle, a merchant seaman from Europe, sings hymns during a visit to Beaver Falls. He gave the violin to John who would be tutored on the instrument and eventually study violin at the Chicago Conservatory of Music after moving there in the mid-30’s. Being African American, he had no access to making a living in the Classical music world. He began playing Jazz though he initially had difficulty because of the unfamiliar bowing technique. He said, “because of all the nationalities there, I had to learn to play everything. At some jobs it was strictly German music, or Polish. Now, they used to dance and knock holes in the floor.” He formed a cabaret band, Chocolate Music Bars, that toured around the Midwest and into Canada. He joined a Memphis band lead by Roy Milton, eventually purchasing an electric National violin, and an amp so he could be heard while playing with larger bands. He gravitated to Los Angeles in 1945 and spent 20 years playing mainly cocktail lounges. He also managed to get a couple of background spots in films, such as the nightclub scene in Cry Danger, and The Blue Gardenia, with Nat King Cole:

He was seeking work at the Los Angeles Musicians Union in 1967 when he was spotted and befriended by Joey Covington. Joey introduced John to Jefferson Airplane, and was eventually made a full time member of the band, rechristened as Papa John Creach. He would also become a member of Jefferson Airplane’s splinter project, the tremendous Hot Tuna:

Papa John would go on to record several solo albums, fronting his own bands, such as Zulu which included a guitarist who would go on to be Keb Mo:

While pursuing his solo career, he remained part of the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna family. He’d become a member of Jefferson Starship, perform with Covington in the San Francisco All Stars, and even be part of Dinosaurs, featuring Covington’s Airplane predecessor Spencer Dryden. He’d continue making guest appearances with Jorma and Jack, including a 1988 show at the Fillmore which lead to their reunion with Paul Kantner. Here is a shot, courtesy of photographer William Dunnell, from a show on August 18, 1988, at The Pier in New York City, with David Bromberg, Jack, Jorma, and Kantner:

Papa John would be recruited by Kantner when Jefferson Starship was relaunched in 1992. He performed with them until earning his rainbow in 1994. His final solo album was Papa’s Blues, a 1992 album backed by the Bernie Pearl Blues Band.

Unfortunately, John’s most well-known solo albums are not available on streaming services. They’re also not in print though used copies are easily found in record stores with a decent used section, and on Discogs or eBay. Today’s Playlist is a SomethingIsHappening compendium of some of what is available in the streaming world by the legendary Papa John Creach: