The year that is 2018 has stripped the world of some iconic artist gone far too soon. Today, it seems we are short one more celebrated musician. Marty Balin, the founder and lead vocalist of the iconic San Franciscan psychedelic 60s band Jefferson Airplane as well as one of the key members of its successor Jefferson Airplane died on September 27th. Paul Kantner, the other founder of Jefferson Airplane, passed away only 3 years ago. Marty was 76 years old.
His wife, Susan Joy Balin, was at Balin’s side when he died. In a statement by Susan and the rest of the Balin’s family expressed love for Marty by saying, “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.”
Bill Thompson, the former manager of both groups and one of Balin’s roommates back in the mid-60s declared that “Marty was the one who started the San Francisco scene.”
Marty was born Martyn Jerel Buchwald in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 30, 1942, and is known for developing what is known as the San Francisco Sound with his band Jefferson Airplane. The group was formed in 1965 and is one of the pioneers in the psychedelic rock scene. Jefferson Airplane’s second album, Surrealistic Pillow was released and scored a gold record in 1967 and is considered one of the 500 Greatest Albums of Time according to Rolling Stone magazine. He then went on to do greater things and achieved critical acclaim with the 1970s Jefferson Starship.
The singer-songwriter contributed his pen and lyrics to major hits including but not limited to “It’s No Secret,” “Today,” “Comin Back To Me,” “Plastic Fantastic Lover,” “Share a Little Joke,” and “Volunteers” that came from his time with Airplane. He also contributed to “Miracles,” “With Your Love,” “Count on Me,” and “Runaway” with Starship.
After making a critical success with both ventures, he broke away and started his solo career by releasing his first solo album, Balin, in 1981. The album included two chart-topping hits, “Hearts,” and “Atlanta Lady.” In 1996, Marty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the members of Jefferson Airplane.
Back in 2016, Marty went under the knife for open heart surgery at the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City. After the surgery, Marty filed a lawsuit against the facility claiming that there was improper care leading to health problems.
There is no news surfacing regarding the cause of death. Marty leaves behind his wife, daughters Jennifer Edwards and Delaney Balin, as well as stepdaughters Rebekah Geir and Moriah Geier.
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