Ira Kaplan | |
|---|---|
 Ira Kaplan in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ira David Kaplan January 7, 1957 Queens, New York, United States |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1984–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]
