Ira Kaplan
| Ira Kaplan | |
|---|---|
 Ira Kaplan in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
January 7, 1957 Queens, New York, United States |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, Piano |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Associated acts | Yo La Tengo |
Ira Kaplan (born January 7, 1957) is the co-founder, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the American indie rock band Yo La Tengo. He is married to Georgia Hubley, Yo La Tengo's vocalist, drummer, songwriter and co-founder.[1]
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Kaplan formed Yo La Tengo in the early 1980s. Previously, he worked as a music critic for such publications as the Soho Weekly News, New York Rocker and Village Voice,[2] as well as serving as a soundman, roadie and backup musician for Mofungo and other New York-area bands.[3][4]
Kaplan's life, family, and musical development were chronicled in the book Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock, by Jesse Jarnow (Avery Books, 2012).[5]
Kaplan's vocals were featured in Eluvium's 2013 album Nightmare Ending in the song "Happiness".
He sporadically hosts a free-form radio program on WFMU under the name "Ira the K."[6]
Gear
Kaplan's gear is a point of interest for many fans and aspiring guitarists.[7]
Guitars
- Candy Apple Red Fender Jazzmaster, with tortoise shell pickguard.
- Sunburst Fender Jaguar
- Natural Fender Stratocaster
- Sunburst Jerry Donahue Signature Telecaster
- Purple Sparkle Danelectro 12-string
- Candy Apple Red Fender Coronado
Amps
- Fender Super Reverb
- Fender Vibro-Lux
Pedals
- Pro Co RAT (Two units are used)
- Boss TU-2 Tuner
- Boss OD-2 TURBO OverDrive
- Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer
- Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer
- Digitech PDS-8000 Delay
- Line 6 DL4
- Line 6 MM4
- Mu-Tron III +
- Vox Wah
- Custom switching unit for routing & triggering between the two amplifiers.
References
- ↑ Allmusic.com Entry for Ira Kaplan
- ↑ Perfect Sound Forever: "From Gem Spa to the World"
- ↑ "An American Band: Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan Reminisces..." Baltimore City Paper, February 2, 2007
- ↑ Booth, Vachel (1988) "Yo, Dudes! - Home runs and headbutts with Yo La Tengo", Underground, February 1988 (Issue 11), p. 21
- ↑ Big Day Coming review at Pitchfork.com
- ↑ WFMU archives for Ira Kaplan
- ↑ Guitargeek.com Guitar Rig Database entry