Marty Balin, founding member of Jefferson Airplane, has died at the age of 76.
Balin and Paul Kantner founded Jefferson Airplane in 1965, and later joined Jefferson Starship in 1978. He also had a top 10 hit as a solo artist with 1981’s “Hearts”.
American rock group Jefferson Airplane performs on stage at the Central Park bandshell, New York City, August 1969. L-R: Guitarist Paul Kantner, drummer Spencer Dryden, singer Grace Slick, guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, singer Marty Balin. (Photo by RCA Records/Getty Images)
Beyond that, Balin was a major figure in the 1960’s San Francisco music scene, owning a club called The Matrix where artists like Janis Joplin and The Doors performed.
Marty had been a Tampa resident and had previously been married to Karen Deal, daughter of newsman Arch Deal. From Arch’s Facebook page: