Marty Balin, co-founder in 1965 of the pioneering psychedelic band Jefferson Airplane, has died at age 76. Balin wrote or co-wrote nearly half of the tunes on the band's seminal 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow that was the de facto soundtrack for San Francisco's Summer of Love. From Rolling Stone:
Born Martyn Jerel Buchwald, Balin was a struggling folk guitarist on the San Francisco scene when he formed a band with Paul Kantner after meeting the 12-string guitarist at a hootenanny. They met up with guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, drummer Skip Spence and singer Signe Toly Anderson and cut their 1966 debut LP Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. They developed a strong following around the budding San Francisco rock scene, but became nationwide superstars in 1967 when Anderson left the group and was replaced by Grace Slick.
