Marty Balin, founder and frontman of Jefferson Airplane, died Thursday in Florida. He was 76.
A cause of death was not made public but his rep said Balin died while being taken to hospital.
Just last month, Balin filed a lawsuit against New York City’s Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital alleging inadequate care after heart surgery in 2016. He claimed a botched tracheotomy left with a paralyzed a vocal chord and half his tongue. Balin also alleged that he suffered bedsores and kidney damage – and that an improperly placed IV caused him to lose part of his left thumb.
Born Martin Jerel Buchwald in Cincinnati, Balin dropped out of university to pursue his passion for music. He recorded songs in the early 60s and was a member of a folk group, Town Criers.
Balin bought a club, the Matrix, and formed a house band called Jefferson Airplane. They quickly helped define the Sound Francisco Sound.
Their breakout album, 1967’s Surrealistic Pillow, spawned tracks like “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.” The band played Woodstock in 1969 and recorded five studio albums with Balin.
Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Balin left the band in 1971 but joined Slick’s spinoff Jefferson Starship from 1975 to 1978, performing on such hits as “Miracles” and “With Your Love.”
In July, Balin told the Marin Independent Journal that he was writing songs for two new albums.
He is survived by wife Susan, his two daughters from a previous marriage, and two step-daughters.