Incubator escapee wiki

Marty Balin

Article Discussion

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Martyn Jerel Buchwald (January 30, 1942 – September 27, 2018), known as Marty Balin (Template:IPAc-en), was an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.<ref name = pareles>Template:Cite news</ref>

Early lifeEdit

Balin was born Martyn Jerel Buchwald in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Catherine Eugenia "Jean" (née Talbot) and Joseph Buchwald.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His paternal grandparents emigrated from Eastern Europe. His father was Jewish and his mother was Episcopalian.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Buchwald attended Washington High School in San Francisco, California.<ref name=":1" /> As a child, Balin was diagnosed with autism.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CareerEdit

Early musical workEdit

In 1962, Buchwald changed his name to Marty Balin,<ref name=":1" /> and began recording with Challenge Records in Los Angeles, releasing the singles "Nobody but You" and "I Specialize in Love".<ref name=GotA>Template:Cite book</ref> By 1964, Balin was leading a folk music quartet named The Town Criers.<ref name=":1" />

Jefferson AirplaneEdit

File:Jefferson Airplane circa 1970.JPG
Balin (far right) with Jefferson Airplane

Balin was the primary founder of Jefferson Airplane, which he "launched" from a restaurant-turned-club he created and named The Matrix,<ref name=":1" /> and was also one of its lead vocalists and songwriters from 1965 to 1971. Balin was one of four Jewish members of the band, including bass player Jack Casady, drummer Spencer Dryden and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the group's 1966–1971 iteration, Balin served as co-lead vocalist alongside Grace Slick. Balin's songwriting output diminished after Surrealistic Pillow (1967) as Slick, Paul Kantner, and Kaukonen matured as songwriters, a process compounded by personality clashes. Balin's most enduring songwriting contributions were often imbued with a romantic, pop-oriented lilt that was atypical of the band's characteristic forays into psychedelic rock. Among Balin's most notable songs were "Comin' Back to Me" (a folk rock ballad later covered by Ritchie Havens and Rickie Lee Jones), "Today" (a collaboration with Kantner initially written on spec for Tony Bennett that was prominently covered by Tom Scott), and, again with Kantner, the topical 1969 top-100 hit "Volunteers". Although uncharacteristic of his oeuvre, the uptempo "3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds" and "Plastic Fantastic Lover" (both written for Surrealistic Pillow) remained integral components of the Airplane's live set throughout the late 1960s.<ref name=GotA /><ref name="JA site bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Balin played with Jefferson Airplane at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and at the Woodstock Festival in 1969.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

In December 1969, Balin was knocked unconscious by members of the Hells Angels motorcycle club while performing during the infamous Altamont Free Concert, as seen in the 1970 documentary film Gimme Shelter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April 1971, he formally departed Jefferson Airplane<ref name = pareles/> after breaking off all communication with his bandmates following the completion of their autumn 1970 American tour. He elaborated upon this decision in a 1993 interview with Jeff Tamarkin of Relix:<ref name="JA site bio" />

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

I don't know, just Janis's death. That struck me. It was dark times. Everybody was doing so much drugs and I couldn't even talk to the band. I was into yoga at the time. I'd given up drinking and I was into totally different area, health foods and getting back to the streets, working with the American Indians. It was getting strange for me. Cocaine was a big deal in those days and I wasn't a cokie and I couldn't talk with everybody who had an answer for every goddamn thing, rationalizing everything that happened. I thought it made the music really tight and constrictive and ruined it. So after Janis died, I thought, I'm not gonna go onstage and play that kind of music; I don't like cocaine.{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries

}}

{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}

Balin remained active in the San Francisco Bay Area rock scene, managing and producing an album for the Berkeley-based sextet Grootna<ref>Columbia 31033</ref> before briefly joining funk-inflected hard rock ensemble Bodacious DF as lead vocalist on their eponymous 1973 debut album.<ref>APL1-0206</ref> The following year, Kantner asked Balin to write a song for his new Airplane offshoot group, Jefferson Starship. Together, they wrote the early power ballad "Caroline", which appeared on the album Dragon Fly with Balin as guest lead vocalist.<ref name="GotA" />

Jefferson StarshipEdit

Rejoining the team he had helped to establish, Balin became a permanent member of Jefferson Starship in 1975; over the next three years, he contributed to and sang lead on four top-20 hits,<ref name = pareles/> including "Miracles" (No. 3, a Balin original), "With Your Love" (No. 12, a collaboration between Balin, former Jefferson Airplane drummer Joey Covington, and former Grootna/Bodacious DF lead guitarist Vic Smith), Jesse Barish's "Count on Me" (No. 8), and N. Q. Dewey's "Runaway" (No. 12).<ref>Billboard Magazine Charts</ref><ref name=GotA /> Ultimately, Balin's relationship with the band was beleaguered by interpersonal problems and his own reluctance toward live performances. He abruptly left the group in October 1978 shortly after Slick's departure from the band.<ref name=GotA />

Solo work, and reunion projectsEdit

In 1979, Balin produced a rock opera titled Rock Justice,<ref>EMI America SWAK-17036</ref> about a rock star who was put in jail for failing to produce a hit for his record company, based on his experiences with the lawsuits fought for years with former Jefferson Airplane manager Matthew Katz.<ref name=GotA /> The cast recording was produced by Balin, but it did not feature him in performance.

File:MartyBalinPerforming.jpg
Balin performing at a concert in Hallandale, Florida

Balin continued with EMI as a solo artist and in 1981, he released his first solo album, Balin, featuring two Jesse Barish songs that became top-40 hits, "Hearts" (#8) and "Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)" (#27). In 1983, Balin released a second solo album, Lucky, along with a Japan-only EP produced by EMI called There's No Shoulder. Balin's contract with EMI ended shortly thereafter.<ref name=GotA />

In 1985, he teamed with former Jefferson Airplane members Paul Kantner and Jack Casady to form the KBC Band.<ref name=GotA /> After the breakup of the KBC band, a 1989 reunion album and tour with Jefferson Airplane followed.Template:Citation needed

Balin continued recording solo albums in the years following the reunion, and reunited with Kantner in the latest incarnation of Jefferson Starship.<ref name=GotA />

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.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>New Jefferson Starship Album Of Formative Folk Treasures: Jefferson's Tree Of Liberty Template:Webarchive, top40-charts.com</ref>

On July 2, 2007, the music-publishing firm Bicycle Music, Inc. announced that it had acquired an interest in songs written or performed by Balin, including hits from his days with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HonorsEdit

Balin, along with the other members of the 1966–1970 line-up of Jefferson Airplane, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a member of Jefferson Airplane, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.<ref name=":0" />

Personal lifeEdit

Balin enjoyed painting all his life. He painted many of the most influential musicians of the last half of the 20th century. Marty Balin's Atelier was located at 130 King Fine Art in Saint Augustine, Florida, Balin's permanent signature collection gallery.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Balin resided in Florida and San Francisco with his wife, Susan Joy Balin, formerly Susan Joy Finkelstein. Balin and Finkelstein had two daughters; Susan had previously had two other daughters.

Balin married Karen Deal in 1989. Karen died in 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Health and deathEdit

While on tour in March 2016, Balin was taken to Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City after complaining of chest pains. After undergoing open-heart surgery, he was transferred to an intensive-care unit to spend time recovering. In a subsequent lawsuit, Balin alleged that neglect and inadequate care facilities on the hospital's part had resulted in a paralyzed vocal cord, loss of his left thumb and half of his tongue, bedsores, and kidney damage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Balin died at his home in Tampa on September 27, 2018, at the age of 76.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

DiscographyEdit

Template:See also Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

Template:Col-break

with Bodacious DF
with KBC Band
compilations
  • Balince (1990)
  • Wish I Were (1995) (Europe only)
  • Mercy of the Moon: The Best of Marty Balin (2009)
  • Nothin' 2 Lose: The Lost Studio Recordings (2009)
  • 415 Music: Rare Studio & Live Recordings 1980–82 (2011)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Col-end

Solo singlesEdit

Year Title Peak chart
positions 		Record Label B-side Album
US AC Rock
1962 "Nobody but You" — — — Challenge Records "You Made Me Fall"
"You Are the One" — — — "I Specialize in Love"
1981 "Hearts" 8 9 20 EMI America Records "Freeway" Balin
"Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)" 27 11 — "Lydia!"
1983 "What Love Is" 63 — — "Heart of Stone" Lucky
"Do It for Love" 102 17 — "Will You Forever"
Other appearances
Year Album/single Artist Comment
1972 Grootna Grootna producer
1977 Goodbye Blues Country Joe McDonald vocals on "Blood on the Ice"
1978 Jesse Barish Jesse Barish producer, vocals
1980 Mercury Shoes
Rock Justice Various artists producer, co-writer
1993 Ships in the Forest Kerry Kearney vocals on "Love Me Slow"
1994 Then And Now, Vol. 1 Various artists citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Then And Now, Vol. 2 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2010 "Summer Rain" Brian Chris Band citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2011 "In the Sun" The Producers Heart and Soul vocals
"Let's Go"

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sisterlinks

| https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3620{{ 

 #if: 
 | /{{{tab}}}
 }}

| {{#if: p3620 

 | {{#if: 
   | {{#if: |[[{{{author-link}}}|{{#if: |, {{{first}}} }}]]|{{#if: |, {{{first}}} }}}}. 
   }}[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3620{{
   #if: 
   | /{{{tab}}}
   }} {{
   #if: 
   | {{{title}}}
   | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
   }}] at AllMusic{{
   #if: 
   | . Retrieved .
   }}

 | {{#if: {{#property:P1728}}
   | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

   | {{#if: {{#property:P1729}}
     | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

     | {{#if: {{#property:P1730}}
       | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

       | {{#if: {{#property:P1994}}
         | Template:First word {{#if:  | {{{title}}} | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

         | {{AllMusic}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.Template:Main other

         }}
       }}
     }}
   }}
 }}

}}

Template:Marty Balin Template:Jefferson Airplane Template:1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://zalansite.site/mediawiki/index.php?title=Marty_Balin&oldid=680534"