Canadian Band was known for hits like ‘One Fine Morning’ and ‘Sunny Days’
By Adam Carter, CBC News, Hamilton Ont. Aug 31, 2017
Lighthouse drummer Skip Prokop passed away Wednesday. (Jeff Chan/Facebook)
Adam Carter
Hamilton native and founding member of Lighthouse, Skip Prokop, has died at the age of 73.
As the drummer and a vocalist in the Juno award-winning act, Prokop helped define the sound of rock and roll on Canadian airways in the 1970s.
Lighthouse was Canada’s answer to Chicago, with the 13-piece rock/jazz ensemble releasing hits like Sunny Days and One Fine Morning.
On a Facebook group dedicated to the band, fans expressed their sorrow at the news.
“R.I.P. Skip Prokop,” wrote Kent Matheson. “May your soul always be sitting in the sun listening to rock and roll. We thank you for the sunny days.”
“Our whole Lighthouse family mourns the loss of our brother, Skip Prokop,” said Brenda Hoffert. “It’s hard to express the sadness I’m feeling now.”
Prokop was also a founding member of the Canadian psychedelic rock band The Paupers, and did session work with artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, Carlos Santana and Janis Joplin.
Prokop also wrote I’d Be So Happy, from Three Dog Night’s 1974 album Hard Labour.
Lighthouse won the Juno Award for best Canadian group for three consecutive years from 1972 to 1974.
Not only a rock legend, Skip also spent time on the air at CFNY as well as an account rep for CFNY and later Standard Radio. A good guy with great stories and a smile for everyone.
A class act! Skip had to pinch hit on lead vocals for Sunny Days due to regular singer Bob McBride being “indisposed” from high living. Bob soon left and Skip helmed the mic again for Pretty Lady yet never, to my knowledge, dissed his wayward ex-colleague. Indeed, I read at least one interview where Skip opined that Sunny Days might have been an even bigger hit if they’d rescheduled the session for Bob to sing.
Creatively, the pair reconciled for the early ’90s reunion of Lighthouse. And now they’re together again in that celestial performance hall.
Sincere condolences to the Prokop family and to Lighthouse colleagues.