Platania is best known for his work with Van Morrison, beginning on Moondance, and most recently on 2016's Keep Me Singing. In 1973 he toured with Morrison as a member of his band at the time The Caledonia Soul Orchestra. The double live album It's Too Late to Stop Now was released in 1974, which included songs from three nights of the tour. Platania also co-wrote two songs with Morrison, on his compilation album of out-takesThe Philosopher's Stone, as well as playing guitar on several of the tracks on disc one. In July 1980, Platania played guitar with Van Morrison's band at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and appeared on the 2006 issued DVDLive at Montreux 1980/1974. In 2006, Platania again reunited with Van Morrison, touring on Morrison's "Pay The Devil" tour and continued playing with the Van Morrison band in 2008. On September 15, 2006, he played in Van Morrison's band at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. A limited edition live album was issued from this concert — Live at Austin City Limits Festival. He also appeared with Morrison in the Austin City Limits film that was made for television and shown in November 2006 on the CMT television channel. He played guitar on several of the tracks on the March 2008 release of Morrison's thirty-third studio album, Keep It Simple. He again played guitar on several of the tracks on the September 2016 release of Morrison's thirty-sixth studio album, Keep Me Singing.
In 2002, Platania released his solo debut Lucky Dog, a collaboration with cartoon artist Elwood H. Smith. In 2007 Platania released his second and predominately instrumental CD entitled 'Blues Waltzes and Badland Borders'. The album features narration by artists such as Jon Voight and Alejandro Escovedo.
Work with others
Platania played on numerous albums for Chip Taylor, songwriter of "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning" and from 1974 through 1982, he recorded and or performed with Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant, and Judy Collins. Platania began working with Don McLean in 1981 playing as his accompanist on every US, Canadian and overseas tour until 1996. John Platania has never been on any records with Don McLean, only on the road. In 2007, Don McLean said "John Platania has been a great friend. He was a completely reliable, fantastically inspired, hard-working, funny and wise human being. I feel very fortunate to have found him and very fortunate that he was willing to devote as much of his time to me and my music as he did". In 1983, he produced and wrote the score for the Emmy winning musical revue None for the Road, a public service production to educate young people about the dangers of drinking, drugs and driving. Platania has worked as a producer on six albums for Guy Davis. He also produced Davis’s "I Will Be Your Friend,” the title song for the Southern Poverty Law Center’s "anti-hate" compilation CD. Platania has also worked with David on songs for tribute CDs to Charlie Patton and Nick Lowe. He composed the music for Sail Production’s stage version of Harriet Tubman, which toured the U.S. during Black History Month.
