Ira Kaplan (born January 7, 1957) is a co-founder, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter in the American indie rock band Yo La Tengo.
He is married to Yo La Tengo vocalist/drummer/songwriter/co-founder Georgia Hubley.A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Kaplan formed Yo La Tengo in the early 1980s.
Previously, he worked as a music critic for such publications as the SoHo Weekly News, New York Rocker and Village Voice, as well as serving as a soundman, roadie and backup musician for Mofungo and other New York-area bands.Kaplan's life, family, and musical development were chronicled in the book Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock, by Jesse Jarnow (Avery Books, 2012).Kaplan's vocals were featured in Eluvium's 2013 album Nightmare Ending in the song "Happiness".
He sporadically hosts a free-form radio program on WFMU under the name "Ira the K."