| Marty Balin | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martyn Jerel Buchwald |
| Born | January 30 1942 |
| Origin | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Genre(s) | rock |
| Occupation(s) | singer |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1965-present |
| Associated acts |
Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship |
Marty Balin (born Martyn Jerel Buchwald, January 30 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and founder of Jefferson Airplane, the pioneering psychedelic rock band from San Francisco. During his late teens, Martyn became interested in being an artist and musician. In 1962, Martyn renamed himself Marty Balin and began recording with Challenge Records, releasing the singles "Nobody But You" and "I Specialize in Love". They garnered little attention, so he went to work with his father and got married. His interest in music did not wane and by 1963-64, Balin was leading a folk music quartet called The Town Criers, with fellow band members Larry Vargo, Jan Ellickson and Bill Collins. Balin was the founder and featured vocalist for Jefferson Airplane from 1965 to 1971. He appeared with the group during their performance at Woodstock in 1969, and less successfully at the disastrous Altamont Speedway concert, where he was knocked unconscious by a biker from the Hells Angels motorcycle club (this event was captured on film in the documentary Gimme Shelter). Balin left the band twice. In 1971, he departed for three years, recording an album under the group name Bodacious D.F. in 1973, producing an album for the group Grootna, and returning to contribute one song, "Caroline", to Dragon Fly (by which time the band was known as Jefferson Starship). Marty joined Jefferson Starship permanently in 1975. In late 1978, after several major hits (including "Miracles," "With Your Love," "Count on Me," and "Runaway") with Starship, Balin again departed. In 1981, he released a solo album, Balin, featuring two Top 40 hits, "Hearts" and "Atlanta Lady." This was followed in 1983 by a second solo album, Lucky. In 1986, he teamed up with Paul Kantner and Jack Casady to form the KBC Band. A 1989 reunion (and tour) with most original members of Jefferson Airplane proved unsuccessful. In 1991 Balin reunited with Kantner in Jefferson Starship The Next Generation. As of 2007 Balin continues to perform with Jefferson Starship TNG, the fourth incarnation of the band. He is also an accomplished painter. On July 2, 2007, music publishing firm Bicycle Music, Inc. announced that it acquired an interest in more than 70 songs written or performed by Balin, including hits from his days with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.
Discography
- Bodacious DF (1973)
- Balin (1981) (includes the AM radio single, "Hearts")
- Lucky (1983)
