ZACH PRATHER

ZACH PRATHER & SLIGHT RETURN…NEW CD “FREAK” AVAILABLE NOW ON DIXON LANDING MUSIC

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Chicago in 1952, Zach Prather grew up listening to many of the great Blues players. He began playing at the age of 13 and by the time he was 15 he had made his first record with Curtis Mayfield’s label Curtom Records. During this time he had commenced playing at many of the well known clubs and venues in the Chicago area.

At 17, Prather completed two years military service, after which he formed another band and returned to the club scene. However, it was not the local Blues players that influenced Prather then, rather the British invasion groups such as the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Small Faces and The Who.

In 1974, Prather moved to Los Angeles and began playing with another Chicago guitar player, Cash McCall. Together they performed with some of the biggest names in the Blues, including Screamin J Hawkins, Etta James and, of course, Willie Dixon. Zach explains, “Cash and I had already become very good friends when he introduced me to Willie, and in a short time we also were very close. So he, Willie, decided we should record together. Willie really liked the things I was doing. He knew people were calling it Rock ‘n Roll, but no one knew better than him where Rock ‘n Roll came from.”

Zach continues, “During this recording project, Willie became ill. I was with him a couple of days before he died. I will always be grateful for being able to meet this man and for all he taught me about life, which is the blues.”

Later, while touring Europe with Screamin J, Zach met Luther Allison. After one jam session and some quick arrangements, Zach moved to Paris where he performed with Luther for three and a half years. While living in Paris, Zach made his first CD called Never My Love, with Melodie/Encore Records.