Years active 1964–present Name John Kay | ||
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Birth name Joachim Fritz Krauledat Similar People Goldy McJohn, Jerry Edmonton, Rushton Moreve, Michael Monarch, Mars Bonfire | ||
Rockburn presents john kay
John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, 12 April 1944, Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany, now Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) is a German-Canadian rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf.
Contents
- Rockburn presents john kay
- Speaking freely john kay
- Early life
- Musical career
- Awards and recognition
- Personal life
- References
Speaking freely john kay
Early life
When Kay was a baby in early 1945, his mother fled with him from the advancing Soviet troops during the Evacuation of East Prussia in harsh winter conditions. In 1948, the two left Arnstadt in the East German Soviet occupation zone to resettle in Hanover, West Germany (as recounted in his song "Renegade" on the album Steppenwolf 7). Living in the British occupation zone, the young Joachim, who suffered from eye problems, listened to music broadcast by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, before his family moved to Canada in 1958.
Musical career
Kay joined a blues rock and folk music group known as The Sparrows in 1965, which had moderate success in Canada before moving to California in the USA, augmenting its line-up and changing its name to Steppenwolf in 1967. With music that pioneered hard rock and heavy metal, Kay's Steppenwolf had international success with songs such as "Born to Be Wild", "Magic Carpet Ride", "Monster", "The Pusher", and "Rock Me".
Kay recorded both as a solo artist and with Steppenwolf during the late 1970s, and wrapped up Steppenwolf's 40th year of touring with what was to be a final gig in October 2007. However, Kay and Steppenwolf appeared on 24 July 2010 at the three-day HullabaLOU music festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
Awards and recognition
In 2004, although never becoming a Canadian citizen, Kay was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in recognition of the beginning of his musical career in Toronto. Kay was present at the induction ceremony in Toronto, and reiterated his strong affection for Canada.
Personal life
Kay is married to Jutta Maue, whom he met in 1965 in Canada while she was working in a coffeehouse where Kay's band, The Sparrows, was playing. They have one daughter, Shawn. The couple founded the Maue-Kay Foundation, which supports human rights and the protection of wildlife and the environment.
Kay was born with a congenital disorder called achromatopsia - complete colour blindness - a defect of the cone cells in the eyes which causes him to see only with his rod cells and thus only in black and white and grey shades, and causes increased sensitivity to light, so he wears sunglasses regardless of time of day, and during his concerts. His eye condition qualified him as legally blind.