Ira Kaplan

Ira Kaplan (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.[1]

Ira Kaplan
Ira Kaplan in 2005
Background information
Born (1957-01-07) January 7, 1957
Queens, New York, United States
GenresIndie rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
InstrumentsVocals, Guitar, Piano
Years active1984–present
Associated actsYo La Tengo

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 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]

In 2012, Spin Magazine named Kaplan the 97th greatest guitarist of all time.[6]

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."[7]

References
  1. Allmusic.com Entry for Ira Kaplan
  2. Perfect Sound Forever: "From Gem Spa to the World"
  3. "An American Band: Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan Reminisces..." Baltimore City Paper, February 2, 2007 Archived April 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Booth, Vachel (1988) "Yo, Dudes! - Home runs and headbutts with Yo La Tengo", Underground, February 1988 (Issue 11), p. 21
  5. Big Day Coming review at Pitchfork.com
  6. https://www.spin.com/2012/05/greatest-guitarists-all-time/
  7. WFMU archives for Ira Kaplan


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