John Platania is a

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

player, and record producer. He was born in 1948 in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

’s Mid-Hudson Valley, in

Ulster County Ulster County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. It is situated along the Hudson River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 181,851. The county seat is Kingston. The county is named after the Irish province of Ulster. History ...

, near

Woodstock Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held during August 15–18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, United States, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, Woodstock. ...

Career

Van Morrison

Platania is best known for his work with

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...

, beginning on ''

Moondance ''Moondance'' is the third studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 27 January 1970 by Warner Bros. Records. After the commercial failure of his first Warner Bros. album ''Astral Weeks'' (1968), Morris ...

'', and most recently on 2016's '' Keep Me Singing''. In 1973 he toured with Morrison as a member of his band at the time

The Caledonia Soul Orchestra The Caledonia Soul Orchestra was the band created by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison in 1973. The band was named after an eighteen-minute instrumental outtake on the '' His Band and the Street Choir'' album. Tour in 1973 In 1973 Va ...

. The double live album ''

It's Too Late to Stop Now ''It's Too Late to Stop Now'' is a 1974 live double album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It features performances that were recorded in concerts at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, ...

'' was released in 1974, which included songs from three nights of the tour. Platania also co-wrote two songs with Morrison, on his compilation album of

out-takes An outtake is a portion of a work (usually a film or music Video recording, recording) that is removed in the editing process and not included in the work's final, publicly released version. In the digital era, significant outtakes have been appe ...

'' The Philosopher's Stone'', as well as playing guitar on several of the tracks on disc one. In July 1980, Platania played guitar with Van Morrison's band at the

Montreux Jazz Festival The Montreux Jazz Festival (formerly Festival de Jazz Montreux and Festival International de Jazz Montreux) is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. It is the second-largest annual ...

, and appeared on the issued

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...

Live at Montreux 1980/1974 ''Live at Montreux 1980/1974'' is the first official DVD by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 16 October 2006. The films consist of two separate performances by Van Morrison at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switz ...

'' (2006). In 2006, Platania again reunited with Van Morrison, touring on Morrison's "

Pay the Devil ''Pay the Devil'' is the thirty-second studio album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in 2006 by Lost Highway. The album features twelve cover versions of American country and western tunes and three original ...

" tour and continued playing with the Van Morrison band in 2008. On September 15, 2006, he played in Van Morrison's band at the

Austin City Limits Music Festival The Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Zilker Park in Austin, Texas on two consecutive three-day weekends. Inspired by the KLRU/PBS music series of the same name, the festival is produced by Austin-based ...

. A limited edition live album was issued from this concert — ''

Live at Austin City Limits Festival ''Live at Austin City Limits Festival'' by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison is a limited edition live album recorded from the Austin City Limits Festival concert at which he was the first night headliner on 15 September 2006. It has ...

''. He also appeared with Morrison in the

Austin City Limits ''Austin City Limits'' is an American live music television program recorded and produced by Austin PBS. The show helped Austin become widely known in the United States as the "Live Music Capital of the World", and is the only television show t ...

film that was made for television and shown in November 2006 on the CMT television channel. He played guitar on several of the tracks on the March 2008 release of Morrison's thirty-third studio album ''

Keep It Simple ''Keep It Simple'' is the thirty-third album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in March 2008. It was Morrison's first US Top 10 album, and made the Top 10 in the UK, Canada and in some European countries. It was his firs ...

''. He again played guitar on several of the tracks on the September 2016 release of Morrison's thirty-sixth studio album '' Keep Me Singing''.

Giants

In 1976, Platania formed a band in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

called Giants. Its members included Ron Elliott, formerly of

The Beau Brummels The Beau Brummels was an American rock band. Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the band's original lineup included Sal Valentino (lead vocals), Ron Elliott (lead guitar), Ron Meagher (bass guitar), Declan Mulligan (rhythm guitar, bass, harmo ...

, with Karl Rucker from the post- Jim Morrison Doors, and

Bruce Gary Bruce Gary (April 7, 1951 – August 22, 2006) was an American musician who was best known as the drummer for the music group the Knack. He was nominated for two Grammy Awards as a stage performer, producer, and recording artist. Born in Bu ...

, drummer who went on to

The Knack The Knack was an American rock band based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with its first single, "My Sharona", an international number-one hit in 1979. History Founding (1977–1978) Singer Doug Fieger was a native of Oak Park, Michigan, a no ...

Solo works

In 2002, Platania released his solo debut ''Lucky Dog'', a collaboration with cartoon artist Elwood H. Smith. In 2007, Platania released his second and predominately instrumental CD entitled 'Blues Waltzes and Badland Borders'. The album features narration by artists such as

Jon Voight Jonathan Vincent Voight (; born December 29, 1938) is an American actor. He came to prominence in the late 1960s with his Academy Award–nominated performance as Joe Buck, a would-be gigolo, in ''Midnight Cowboy'' (1969). During the 1970s, he ...

and

Alejandro Escovedo Alejandro Escovedo (born January 10, 1951) is an American rock musician, songwriter, and singer, who has been recording and touring since the late 1970s. His primary instrument is the guitar. He has played in various rock genres, including punk ...

Work with others

Platania played on numerous albums for

Chip Taylor Chip Taylor (born James Wesley Voight; March 21, 1940) is an American songwriter and singer noted for writing "Angel of the Morning" and " Wild Thing". Early life Taylor was born on March 21, 1940, in Yonkers, New York. He is the brother of a ...

, songwriter of " Wild Thing" and "

Angel of the Morning "Angel of the Morning" is a popular song written by Chip Taylor, originally recorded by Evie Sands, but first charting by Merrilee Rush. The song has been covered by many artists including P. P. Arnold, Connie Eaton, Mary Mason, Guys 'n' Dolls ...

" and from 1974 through 1982, he recorded and or performed with

Randy Newman Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist known for his Southern American English, Southern-accented singing style, early Americana (music), Americana-influenced songs (often ...

Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated ...

Natalie Merchant Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. She joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first se ...

and

Judy Collins Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning seven decades. An Academy Award-nominated documentary director and a Grammy Award-winning recording artist, she is known for her ec ...

. Platania began working with

Don McLean Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1971 hit song " American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early ...

in 1981 playing as his accompanist on every US, Canadian and overseas tour until 1996. John Platania has never been on any records with Don McLean, only on the road. In 2007, Don McLean said "John Platania has been a great friend. He was a completely reliable, fantastically inspired, hard-working, funny and wise human being. I feel very fortunate to have found him and very fortunate that he was willing to devote as much of his time to me and my music as he did" (Howard, 2007). In 1983, he produced and wrote the score for the

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

winning musical revue ''None for the Road'', a public service production to educate young people about the dangers of drinking, drugs and driving. Platania has worked as a producer on six albums for Guy Davis. He also produced Davis’s "I Will Be Your Friend,” the title song for the

Southern Poverty Law Center The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is known for its legal cases against white su ...

’s "anti-hate" compilation CD. Platania has also worked with Davis on songs for tribute CDs to

Charley Patton Charley Patton (April 1891 (probable) – April 28, 1934), also known as Charlie Patton, was an American Delta blues musician and songwriter. Considered by many to be the "Father of the Delta Blues", he created an enduring body of American mus ...

and

Nick Lowe Nicholas Drain Lowe (born 24 March 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in power pop and new wave,Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and social activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 slaves, including family and friends, us ...

'', which toured the United States during

Black History Month Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently ...

. From the 2010's to present he has been the guitarist for Chip Taylor's backup band, The New Ukrainians.

Discography

Solo albums

* 2002: ''Lucky Dog'' (Double Dog) * 2007: ''Blues, Waltzes And Badland Borders'' (Train Wreck)

With Van Morrison

* 1970: ''

'' (

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

) * 1970: ''

His Band and the Street Choir ''His Band and the Street Choir'' (also referred to as ''Street Choir'') is the fourth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 15 November 1970 by Warner Bros. Records. Originally titled ''Virgo's Fool'' ...

'' (Warner Bros.) * 1973: '' Hard Nose the Highway'' (Warner Bros.) * 1974: ''

'' (Warner Bros.) * 1986: ''

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher ''No Guru, No Method, No Teacher'' is the sixteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1986 on Mercury. Upon release in 1986, it was well received by critics and charted at number twenty-seven in the UK a ...

'' (

Mercury Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

* 1998: '' The Philosopher's Stone'' (

Polydor Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...

) * 2006: ''

'' (Exile) * 2008: ''

'' (Polydor / Exile) * 2009: ''

Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl ''Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl'' is the fifth live album recorded by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, and released in the UK on 9 February 2009, and in the United States on 24 February 2009. It was recorded during two li ...

'' (Listen To The Lion) * 2016: '' Keep Me Singing'' (Exile) * 2016: ''It's Too Late to Stop Now...Vols. II, III, IV and DVD'' (Legacy / Sony)

With Chip Taylor

* 1972: ''Gasoline'' ( Buddah) * 1973: ''Chip Taylor's Last Chance'' (Warner Bros.) * 1974: ''Some of Us'' (Warner Bros.) * 1975: ''This Side of the Big River'' (Warner Bros.) * 1976: ''Somebody Shoot Out The Jukebox'' ( Columbia) with Ghost Train * 2000: ''The London Sessions Bootleg'' (Train Wreck) * 2001: ''Black and Blue America'' (Train Wreck) * 2006: ''Unglorious Hallelujah'' (Back Porch) * 2008: ''New Songs of Freedom'' (Train Wreck) * 2009: ''Yonkers NY'' (Train Wreck) * 2012: ''Golden Kids Rules'' (Train Wreck) * 2012: ''F**k All the Perfect People'' (Train Wreck) * 2014: ''Little Prayers Trilogy'' (Train Wreck) * 2016: ''Little Brothers'' (Train Wreck) * 2017: ''A Song I Can Live With'' (Train Wreck)

With Chip Taylor and
Carrie Rodriguez Carrie Luz Rodriguez (born July 31, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter and the daughter of Texan singer-songwriter David Rodriguez and Texas painter Katy Nail, and is the granddaughter of prolific Texas essayist Frances Nail. She sings and ...

* 2002: ''Let's Leave This Town'' (Texas Music Group / Lone Star) * 2003: ''The Trouble with Humans'' (Texas Music Group / Lone Star) * 2004: ''Angel of the Morning'' (Texas Music Group / Lone Star) * 2010: ''The New Bye & Bye'' (Train Wreck)

With Chip Taylor and Kendel Carson

* 2011: ''Rock & Roll Joe'' (Train Wreck)

With Giants

* 1976: ''Thanks for the Music'' (

Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...

)

With Guy Davis

* 2000: '' Butt Naked Free'' ( Red House) * 2002: ''Give In Kind'' (Red House) * 2003: ''Chocolate to the Bone'' (Red House) * 2004: ''Legacy'' (Red House) * 2008: ''Skunkmello'' (Red House) * 2009: ''Sweetheart Like You'' (Red House) * 2015: ''Kokomo Kidd'' (M.C.)

With Nik Rael (as producer)

* 2003: Nik Rael - ''Worlds Fade Away'' (Bermuda Reef) * 2009: Nik Rael - ''Thank You'' (Bermuda Reef) * 2011: Nik Rael - ''Winter '61'' (Bermuda Reef)

As producer

* 1998: Kim & Reggie Harris - ''In the Heat of the Summer'' (Folk Era) * 2002: my Fradon - ''Small Town News'' (Leo Rising)

As guest artist

* 1971: Gary Kuper - ''Shoot for the Moon'' (Polydor) * 1972: Genya Ravan - ''Genya Ravan'' (Columbia) * 1972: Martha Veléz - ''Hypnotized (Martha Veléz album), Hypnotized'' (Polydor) * 1974:

- '' Good Old Boys'' (

Reprise In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repea ...

) * 1982: Gary Windo - ''Dogface'' (Europa) * 1995: Liv Cummins - "Some Days" (22 records) * 2002: Professor Louie & The Crowmatix - ''Flyin' High'' (Woodstock) * 2003: Carla Werner - ''Departure'' (Columbia) * 2003: Ed Jurdi - ''Longshores Drive'' (Red Fez) * 2004: Emma's Revolution - ''One'' (Big W Productions) * 2007: Kendel Carson - ''Rearview Mirror Tears'' (Train Wreck) * 2008: Professor Louie & The Crowmatix - ''As the Crow Flies'' (Woodstock) * 2009: Kendel Carson - ''Alright Dynamite'' (Train Wreck) * 2011: MJ Nelson and The Vinyls - ''Rock-Ola'' (Double Cross) * 2012: Kim & Reggie Harris - ''Resurrection Day'' (Appleseed) * 2014: Mister Roper - ''Mister Roper'' (Red Parlor)

References

External links

John Platania official site
* *
John Platania
@MySpace {{DEFAULTSORT:Platania, John Living people Year of birth missing (living people) People from Woodstock, New York American country guitarists American folk guitarists American male guitarists American rock guitarists American session musicians Van Morrison