(CelebrityAccess) Marty Balin, 76, co-founder of Jefferson Airplane died yesterday. His cause of death was not known at press time.
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer wrote some of the band’s biggest hits, “It’s No Secret,” “Today,” “Comin’ Back To Me,” “Plastic Fantastic Lover,” “Share a Little Joke” and “Volunteers,” and co-wrote five songs on the band’s breakout album, Surrealistic Pillow including the album opener, “She Has Funny Cars.”
Born Martyn Jerel Buchwald, Balin was a struggling folk guitarist in San Francisco when he met Paul Kantner at a 12-string guitarist hootenany and together formed a band. Soon, alongside guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, drummer Slip Spence and singer Signe Toly Anderson, they formed a band and cut in 1966 the debut album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. Anderson left the group the next year and was replaced by Grace Slick.
Balin quit the group in 1968, managed some bands in San Francisco, and rejoined the band now known as Jefferson Starship in 1974, contributing one of its megahits, “Miracles.”
Balin underwent open heart surgery in 2016 and, earlier this year, sued the hospital claiming the surgery was botched, causing him to lose half of his tongue, among other issues.
