Jefferson Airplane founding member Marty Balin died yesterday at age 76. Balin’s death has been confirmed by his publicist though no cause of death was given. Susan Joy Balin, his wife, was by his side.
Martyn Jerel Buchwald was born on January 30, 1942 in Cincinnati and was raised in San Francisco. He changed his name to Marty Balin in 1962, three years before the guitarist/vocalist with the booming tenor voice put together Jefferson Airplane with Paul Kantner. The pair recruited Jorma Kaukonen to play lead guitar, Signe Toly Anderson to sing, Bob Harvey to play bass and Jerry Peloquin on drums. Jefferson Airplane went through a few personnel changes before landing on the classic lineup of Balin, Kantner, Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, vocalist Grace Slick and drummer Spencer Dryden. The band helped define the psychedelic rock sound with the release of the iconic 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow which contained the two songs most closely associated with the band: “Somebody To Love” and “White Rabbit.” Marty penned a number of songs for the Airplane including “Volunteers,” “Comin’ Back To Me” and “It’s No Secret.”
Balin parted ways with Jefferson Airplane in 1971 and went on to join Kantner’s burgeoning Jefferson Starship project in 1975. His original tenure with Starship lasted through 1978. Marty, who was also an accomplished painter, found success as a platinum and gold solo artist. He took part in multiple reunions with his former Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship band mates in the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s including a long run with Starship that ended in 2008. In 1996, Marty Balin and the rest of Jefferson Airplane were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
“Marty and I shared the deepest of love—he often called it Nirvana—and it was. But really, we were all touched by his love. His presence will be within my entire being forever,” said Susan Balin in a statement. “Daddy was daddy,” added his daughter Delaney Balin. He was also survived by daughter Jennifer Edwards and stepdaughters Rebekah Geier and Moriah Geier.
