John Kay, born Joachim Fritz Krauledat on April 12, 1944, in Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany, is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is widely recognized as the frontman of the influential band Steppenwolf. Kay's early life involved fleeing East Prussia with his mother in 1945 and later relocating to Hanover, West Germany, in 1949.

He was inspired by rock 'n' roll music while listening to Little Richard on U.S. Armed Forces radio.