Rock My World Canada, chapter 147: John Kay

[Mike Carr has created a catalogue/reference work featuring all kinds of Canadian rock and alternative releases from the past few decades. Check out his a massive volume on Canadian music history entitled Canadian Alternative & Indie Reference and Collector’s Guide. It’s an incredible discography of hundreds of bands. See below to see how you can help him achieve this.– AC]

John Kay (born Joachim Fritz Krauledat, 12 April 1944, Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany) is a German-Canadian rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf. 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”. 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.

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