Page updated on Wednesday 17 February 2010

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Biography (Short Version)

Multi-instrumentalist Timo Pratskin was born on December 21, 1963. He began playing at the age of six, when his parents gave him a guitar. At the age of ten he was already composing music, played in different bands, and spent all his spare time playing the drums, the guitar, the bass and the keyboards. His first public performance, as a drummer, took place in 1976.

At the age of fifteen, Timo finally decided on keyboards as his favourite instrument, and put together his first band, which played music written by him. A year later, at the age of sixteen, Timo joined the FAROUT band, which had won the championship in the competition for the best Finnish band a few years earlier.

In 1983 Timo was asked to play with the Finnish rock legend Remu Aaltonen, who was recording his solo album. Remu is the leading figure and the drummer of The Hurriganes, a band that was extremely popular in Finland in the 1970s and the 1980s.

In 1985 Timo played on the solo album of Juha Björninen, one of the most highly appreciated session musicians in Finland. They have also perfomed together live.

In 1987 Timo joined the INSTINCT band, headed by Ilkka Niemeläinen. The other members of the band included Pentti Lahti, Keimo Hirvonen, Jussi Liski and Ville Forss. The drummer of the band was later replaced by Anssi Nykänen. Among other things, INSTINCT perfomed on the main stage at the Pori Jazz festival in 1989.

The same year - 1987 - Pepe Ahlqvist called Timo, and asked him to join the SUNSET BOULEVARD (1987-1988) band, which later became known as the H.A.R.P. (1988 -). H.A.R.P. published altogether 5 CDs, and toured Europe throwing gigs in Germany, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands, among others. In 1993, at the Pori Jazz festival, Jeff Healey began jamming with H.A.R.P. all of a sudden, in the middle of their gig. The famous Finnish film director Mika Kaurismäki has directed a music video for the band.

In 1993 Timo put together a band called FISSIO (1993 - 2000). At first, this trio played Timo's music, and in addition to him included Harri Rantanen (bass) and Harry Ala-Kojola (drums). After a while Timo felt like extending the band, and asked guitarist Jere Ristmäki to join the group. In addition to increasing the number of the members, the band also expanded on its musical material, performing music by Harri Rantanen. In 1994 Peter Engberg replaced the former guitarist, and percussionist Leevi Leppänen (1994-1995) joined the band, too. A year later there were some changes again; Sami Kuoppamäki joined the band as the new drummer, and Mikko Vuorela as the new bass player. FISSIO toured Finland performing in clubs and at festivals, and published one CD titled I´mpossible (1998), featuring Mongo Aaltonen on the percussions. The CD consists of music composed by Timo and Peter.

In 1995 Pekka Pohjola called and asked Timo to join his band. Timo played a few gigs with the band, and was featured in a TV-document on the band. This collaboration lasted for over a year.
In addition to working with Pekka Pohjola in 1995, Timo joined the LOOP TREATMENT band led by Anssi Nykänen. The band played a few gigs and their first CD is about to be published.

In 1997 bass player Jan-Olof Strandberg asked Timo to join his band, and they threw a few gigs in Finland and Sweden. In addition, Timo plays on Strandberg's solo CD Great Moments.
The same year - 1997 - Timo played as a guest on Seppo Tyni's solo CD.

A year later, in 1998, guitarist Antti Kotikoski asked Timo to join a band called AK-47. AK-47 is a multi-national band, featuring Antti Kotikoski (USA), Richard Hallebeek (The Netherlands), Jaan Wessman, Harri Lehtonen and Timo Pratskin (Finland). The band has toured in Finland between years 1998 - 2000.

In 1999 guitarist Jarmo Hynninen asked Timo to join his band, which has toured Finland. Jarmo has published a solo CD in 2001, and Timo plays on this CD, too.

Timo has played on several recordings by famous Finnish artists such as Kim Lönnholm, Susanna Haavisto, Edu Kettunen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Samuli Edelmann etc...

He has also performed live with famous Finnish artists such as Veeti & Kallio Horns, Niko Ahvonen & Cortina Jets, Kim Lönnholm Band, Ufo Mustonen, Fabulettes etc...

In addition to the keyboards, Timo has played (on record, in studio, on stage) the drums, the bass and the guitar.

Currently Timo performs with his own band featuring Anssi Nykänen on drums, Jaan Wessman on bass, Leevi Leppänen on percussions and Tomi " Varre " Vartiainen on guitar.

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