Marty Balin

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Marty Balin
Background information <tr><td>Birth name</td><td colspan="2">Martyn Jerel Buchwald</td></tr><tr><td>Born</td><td colspan="2">January 30, 1942</td></tr><tr><td>Origin</td><td colspan="2">Cincinnati, Ohio</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">rock</td></tr><tr><td>Occupation(s)</td><td colspan="2">singer</td></tr><tr><td>Instrument(s)</td><td colspan="2">vocals</td></tr><tr><td>Years active</td><td colspan="2">1965-present</td></tr><tr><td textalign="top" style="padding-right: 1em;">Associated acts</td><td colspan="2">Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship</td></tr>

Marty Balin (born Martyn Jerel Buchwald on January 30, 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and founder of Jefferson Airplane, the pioneering psychedelic rock band from San Francisco.

Balin would leave Jefferson Airplane twice. In 1970, he departed for three years, returning to contribute one song to Dragonfly (the band was now known as Jefferson Starship at this point). In late 1978, after several major hits (including "Miracles," "With Your Love," "Count on Me," and "Runaway"), Balin would depart again.

In 1981, he released a solo album, Balin, featuring two Top 40 hits, "Hearts" and "Atlanta Lady." But by 1986, he would team up with Paul Kantner and Jack Casady to form the KBC Band. A 1989 reunion with most original members of Jefferson Airplane would prove unsuccessful.

As of 2006 Balin continues to perform with Jefferson Starship TNG, the fourth incarnation of the band and is an accomplished painter.

In 1963-4 Marty Balin led a folk quartet called "The Town Criers." The three other members were: Larry Vargo, Jan Ellickson, and Bill Collins.