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MARTY BALIN

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Marty Balin (born Martyn Jerel Buchwald, January 30 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an United States|American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and founder of Jefferson Airplane, the pioneering Rock music|rock band from San Francisco, California|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 performances at Monterey International Pop Festival|Monterey and Woodstock Festival|Woodstock in 1967 and 1969, and less successfully at the disastrous Altamont Free Concert|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 (documentary)|Gimme Shelter'').

In 1971, he departed Jefferson Airplane, recording an album under the group name Bodacio... read all