He was drawn to the ivories at age three, lessons by five and performed his first recital when he was seven. While working for his father's furniture store, one of his father's customers sold him discarded 45 rpm records at a nickel a piece from his juke box servicing business back in the mid 1960’s. Records from the likes of T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, BB King and Little Richard opened new frontiers and wetted Kaplan's appetite to learn more.
Kaplan’s early blues piano influences were players such as Otis Spann, Floyd Dixon, Charles Brown, Big Maceo Merriweather, Bob Call, Blind John Davis, Sunnyland Slim, Walter Roland, Pete Johnson, Professor Longhair, Leroy Carr, Amos Milburn, Ray Charles, Roosevelt Sykes and many others too numerous to mention. In later years, his jazz piano influences were ivory aces such as Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Sonny Clark, Oscar Peterson, Teddy Wilson, Hampton Hawes, Earl Hines, George Shearing, Ahmad Jamal, Willie The Lion Smith, McCoy Tyner, Barry Harris, Horace Silver, Thelonius Monk, Errol Garner, Paul Smith, Johnny Guanieri, Tete Montoliu, Bobby Timmons, just to name a few. Then there were his deep gospel piano influences, such as Arizona Dranes, Thomas Dorsey, Evelyn Starks Hardy, Mildred Falls, Evelyn Gay and several others. Some of Fred’s favorite Hammond Organ players that greatly impacted his playing were pioneers such as Jack McDuff, Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, Baby Face Willette, Larry Goldings, Charles Earland, Richard Groove Holmes, Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett, Jimmy McGriff and Dr. Lonnie Smith.
To meet blues greats, Kaplan swept floors at the Golden Bear and during his time off, hung around the Ash Grove, meeting Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, and the like. But Kaplan's most profound experience came from befriending Lloyd Glenn at the local musician’s union hall in Los Angeles. Their close friendship lasted many years, affecting Fred’s playing style forever.
Through Al Blake, Kaplan met Hollywood Fats in the early 1970’s, playing first as the Headhunters trio, which then evolved into the original Hollywood Fats Band. They recorded one self-titled album in 1979, later re-titled “Rock This House” when reissued on the Blacktop label. This same historic recording has been re-issued world-wide several times over the last thirty years.
During his tenure with the (now legendary) Hollywood Fats Band, Kaplan was fortunate enough to have played with some of the greatest living blues artists of our time, legends such as Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Turner, Albert Collins, George Harmonica Smith, Percy Mayfield, Lowell Fulsom, Margie Evans, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Joe Willie Wilkins, Freddie King, Johnny Shines, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Finis Tasby, Louis Meyers, Freddie Robinson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Roy Brown, Snooky Pryor, Little Sammy Davis, Johnny Dyer, Phillip Walker, Lee Allen, T-Bone Walker, Junior Wells, Bobby Jones, , Shakey Jake Harris, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, William Clarke, Lynnwood Slim, Rod Piazza, Gatemouth Brown, James Harman, Charlie Musselwhite, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Kim Wilson, The Mannish Boys, Rick Holmstrom, Otis Rush and many other legendary blues greats.
TODAY
Fred’s highly-acclaimed instrumental recording “Signifyin’ has just been re-released on Kaplan’s own label for the die-hard blues piano aficionados. It features sterling performances from Richard Innes (drums) and Larry Taylor (bass) to compliment this beautiful live recording. He has also released his new CD Triage, a brave new solo piano project of inspirational vertical music. It is a freshand originalsolitude-flavoredperspective toinspire the soul in our hectic and frantic world….a wonderful and refreshing listening experience for all piano lovers. Fred is currently continuing to record and tour worldwide, both as a solo pianist and as an integral part of the world-renown Hollywood Blue Flames group.
"What's puzzling is why it's taken years for Kaplan to release a solo challenge. After all, he is a member of the Hollywood Fats Band, and has supported some of the cream of the crop of the Southern California blues scene -- James Harman, William Clarke, Junior Watson, and Robert Lucas. Could it be he shies away from front stage glory, and instead uses his hands to speak on the ivories? Even with the generous solo space granted on this release, he remains humble and prefers to praise his mentor, Lloyd Glenn and the Almighty. No meat by-products and cereal fillers here -- great rib-stickin, ' back-to-basics piano blues are featured here." ~ Char Ham, All Music Guide
Recording Quality: Overall Enjoyment
The Old School, By "scantic" (Williamstown, MA USA) -
"Fred Kaplan, Larry Taylor, and Richard Innes have captured the essence of pared-down-to-the bone piano stride and boogie in this magnificent recording. Kaplan is one of the best blues players today, devoted to a near-forgotten style best remembered best by those old gems from Jack Dupree and the Memphis Slim/Willie Dixon collaborations. There isn't a person on the planet--musical tastes notwithstanding--who would not find something to like in this CD. And most importantly: while this is a Kaplan recording, it only works because of the first-rate back-up from Taylor and Innes. This a gem--one of the best blues piano records of all time."
"Finally... bare-bone blues piano!" By T. J. Walker (Bethlehem, PA United States) -
"Wow! This is the real deal! I love blues piano, and have finally found the single source for a variety of styles and moods. Up to this point, I had been listening to a lot of David Maxwell (Maximum Blues Piano - Tone Cool Records). Maxwell is incredible, but you almost get the feeling that he's trying to impress you more with his "chops" than his soul. Fred Kaplan plays the blues with some mighty tasty licks, as well as the heart and soul of a tried and true bluesman. The disc is produced well also, and you can let yourself feel as if you're right there in that smokey blues club rather than a studio. If you're a real fan of the blues, and appreciate the clean sound of a piano wailing away, then you owe it to yourself to pony up the bucks to listen to the keys played as they were meant to be played."
The finest blues piano performance and recording..."
"During another life, I lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for about three years. On selected weekends, my wife and I would steal away to New Orleans in search of great live music and great food. There is no shortage of either in the French Quarter. During those times, in addition to eating some of the finest food anywhere on the face of this earth, we had the good fortune of enjoying wonderful live performances by world-class musicians in very small, intimate venues. One such performance that is indelibly etched upon my mind occurred one evening with the great Dr. John at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street. That night, the Dr.'s mastery of the piano was so complete, so natural, that the accompanying musicians and the audience were drawn into the music in a way that transcended the physical experience. There was something spiritual, mystical, going on in that room."
"I have never again experienced that sense of connection with a blues piano performance, live or otherwise, until I listened to Fred Kaplan's Signifyin'. "Four Thirty-One A.M. Blues" is a knock-down, drop-dead, masterful example of the blues piano at its absolute best. This is a sit-up-and-take-notice performance of an exceptionally well-written piece of music. "Fred's Blues" builds to a rhythmic crescendo that will shake you down, slap you around and leave you wanting more. I can't begin to describe all the great tracks on this CD. If I did that this review would be far too long because every track is fabulous. Fred Kaplan is a piano virtuoso, a killer on the keys. He is a very special and gifted musician who conveys emotion, soul and spirit with every note. Kaplan is both a classically trained and self-taught pianist who started playing at the tender age of three. His inspiration for the blues came early in life, when at only 16 he began to listen to Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Charles Brown and Floyd Dixon. During the '70s, Kaplan was a member of the Hollywood Fats Band, a group that would become legendary on the active Southern California blues scene." "On Signifyin', Kaplan is supported by first-class musical talent. Hollywood Fats Band alumni Larry Taylor plays a vicious upright bass and Richard Innes on the drums is tight and hard driving. In addition to the outstanding music on this CD, audiophiles get an extra treat. The sonic caliber of this recording is of true audiophile quality. Blue Collar Music states in its liner notes that its musical recordings are, "live to tape.....no gimmicks, no tricks, just good, natural music." Further, they note that "all tracks recorded live and mixed in HI-FI MONO directly to a special Ampex two track machine." I can tell you that in my system, Freddie and the boys were right there with me. The sound could not have been more natural and palpable. On every track, the soundstage was dimensionally accurate with the instruments in very precise placement. I kept turning the volume up higher and higher with every song. This is damn good music!"
"I hope that by now, you have gotten the picture that Signifyin' is the musical equivalent of legal addiction. You need to go out and get this CD so that you too can enjoy the euphoria. This is the finest blues piano performance and recording that I have heard on the CD media." ~ M.L.Jackson