Ira Kaplan

Ira Kaplan
Ira Kaplan in 2005
Ira Kaplan in 2005
Background information
Birth nameIra David Kaplan
Born (1957-01-07) January 7, 1957 (age 67)
Queens, New York, United States
GenresIndie rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active1984–present

Ira David Kaplan[1] (born January 7, 1957) is a co-founder, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter in the American indie rock band Yo La Tengo. He is married to the band's co-founder Georgia Hubley.[2]

A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Kaplan formed Yo La Tengo in the early 1980s. Previously, he worked as a music critic for the SoHo Weekly News, New York Rocker, Village Voice[3] and Matter,[4] as well as serving as a soundman, roadie and backup musician for Mofungo and other New York-area bands.[5][6] 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).[7]

In 2012, Spin named Kaplan the 97th greatest guitarist of all time.[8]

Kaplan's vocals were featured in Eluvium's 2013 album Nightmare Ending in the song "Happiness". He occasionally hosts a free-form radio program on WFMU under the name "Ira the K."[9]

  1. ^ "ABOVE THE SOUND". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Allmusic.com Entry for Ira Kaplan
  3. ^ Perfect Sound Forever: "From Gem Spa to the World"
  4. ^ "Matter magazine". The Rock Mag Archive. rockmagarchive.com. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  5. ^ "An American Band: Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan Reminisces..." Baltimore City Paper, February 2, 2007 Archived April 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Booth, Vachel (1988) "Yo, Dudes! - Home runs and headbutts with Yo La Tengo", Underground, February 1988 (Issue 11), p. 21
  7. ^ Big Day Coming review at Pitchfork.com
  8. ^ "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". 3 May 2012.
  9. ^ WFMU archives for Ira Kaplan