Marty Balin
| Marty Balin | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martyn Jerel Buchwald |
| Born | January 30, 1942 |
| Origin | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock, Folk rock, Pop rock, Acid rock |
| Occupations | Musician, Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar |
| Years active | 1965—present |
| Labels | Challenge, EMI, GWE |
| Associated acts | Jefferson Airplane, KBC Band, Jefferson Starship |
Marty Balin (born Martyn Jerel Buchwald, January 30, 1942) is an American musician. He is best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.
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[edit] Early life
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Martyn Buchwald was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is mildly autistic, and as a child he struggled with this while growing up in Ohio, and it affected him into his adulthood.[1] Marty attended Washington High School in San Francisco, California and is a member of the Washington Hall of Fame.
[edit] Career
In 1962, Martyn renamed himself Marty Balin and began recording with Challenge Records, releasing the singles "Nobody But You" and "I Specialize in Love".[2] 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.[2]
Balin was the founder and one of the lead vocalists for Jefferson Airplane from 1965 to 1971.[2]
In 1971, he departed Jefferson Airplane and produced an album for the group Grootna[3] before joining them and recording vocals for the album Bodacious DF.[4] In 1974, Paul Kantner asked Marty to write a song for his new Airplane offshoot group, Jefferson Starship and together they wrote "Caroline"[2] which appeared on the album Dragon Fly. Marty joined Jefferson Starship permanently in 1975,[2] and contributed to several hit songs (including "Miracles" (#12), "With Your Love" (#3), "Count on Me" (#8), and "Runaway" (#12).[5] In 1978, Balin left the group.[2]
In 1979, he produced a rock opera entitled "Rock Justice,"[6] about a rock-star who was put in jail for failing to produce a hit for the record company based on his experiences with the lawsuits fought for years with former Airplane manager Matthew Katz.[2] The cast recording was produced by Balin but did not feature him in performance.
Balin continued with EMI as a solo artist and in 1981, he released his first solo album, Balin, featuring two Top 40 hits, "Hearts" (#8) and "Atlanta Lady" (#27). This was followed in 1983 by a second solo album, Lucky, along with a Japanese-only EP produced by EMI called There's No Shoulder. Lucky did not match the performance of Balin on the Billboard charts, and Balin's contract with EMI ended.[2]
In 1985, he teamed up with Paul Kantner and Jack Casady to form the KBC Band.[2] After the breakup of the KBC band, a 1989 reunion album and tour with Jefferson Airplane followed.
Balin continued recording solo albums in the years following the reunion and reunited with Kantner in the latest incarnation of Jefferson Starship.[2]
Balin had intended to record lead vocals for two tracks for Jefferson Starship's album, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty. However, his art touring schedule conflicted with studio sessions and instead the track "Maybe for You" from the German release of Windows of Heaven was included.[7][8]
On July 2, 2007, music publishing firm Bicycle Music, Inc. announced that it acquired an interest in songs written or performed by Balin, including hits from his days with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.[9]
[edit] Personal life
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His wife, Karen T. Deal, died on November 19, 2010, in Temple Terrace, Florida, after choking on food. She was 57 years old.[10] He has two daughters - Jennifer and Delaney Mariah Skye.[2]
[edit] Discography
- Solo albums
- Balin (1981) (includes the single, "Hearts")
- Lucky (1983)
- There's No Shoulder EP (1983) (Japan only)
- Better Generation (1991)
- Freedom Flight (1997)
- Marty Balin Greatest Hits (1999) (All New Recordings)
- Marty Balin 2003 (2003)
- Nashville Sessions (2008)
- Nothin' 2 Lose (2009)
- Time For Every Season (2009)
- Blue Highway (2010)
- The Witcher (2011)
- Compilation albums
- Balince (1990)
- Wish I Were (1995) (German - Beverly Records/AMMC International)
- The Aviator - Lost Treasures (2005)
- with Jefferson Airplane
- Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966)
- Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
- After Bathing at Baxter's (1967)
- Crown of Creation (1968)
- Bless Its Pointed Little Head (1969)
- Volunteers (1969)
- Early Flight (1974)
- Jefferson Airplane (1989)
- with Bodacious DF
- Bodacious DF (1973)
- with Jefferson Starship
- Dragon Fly (1974)
- Red Octopus (1975)
- Spitfire (1976)
- Earth (1978)
- Deep Space / Virgin Sky (1995)
- Windows of Heaven (1999)
- Across the Sea of Suns (2001)
- Jefferson's Tree of Liberty (2008)
- with KBC Band
- KBC Band (1986)
[edit] References
- ^ Interview: Marty Balin, wordjourneys.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0671034030.
- ^ Columbia 31033
- ^ APL1-0206
- ^ Billboard Magazine Charts
- ^ EMI America SWAK-17036
- ^ (2008) Album notes for Jefferson's Tree of Liberty by Jefferson Starship [CD booklet]. The Lab Records (3020617382).
- ^ New Jefferson Starship Album Of Formative Folk Treasures: Jefferson's Tree Of Liberty, top40-charts.com
- ^ Catalog of Bicycle Music
- ^ 2010 events at thedeadrockstarsclub.com; accessed November 2010
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Balin at the Jefferson Airplane official website
- Allmusic: Marty Balin
- Tamarkin, Jeff. Jefferson Airplane biography, Got a Revolution.com
- Fenton, Craig. Jefferson Airplane Flight Manual, Take Me To A Circus Tent.net
- Interview with Balin
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