Rock Musician. A rhythm guitarist, he was a founding member of the influential 1960s rock band "Jefferson Airplane." His mother died when he was eight years old, he was sent to live in a Jesuit military boarding school, when his traveling salesman father could not care for him. After attending the University of Santa Clara and San Jose State College, he focused fully on music and performed as a folk artist on the San Francisco club scene. He met singer Marty Balin in 1965 and enlisted lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, lead singer Signe Toly Anderson (who was replaced by Grace Slick prior to their commercial success) and drummers Skip Spence & Spencer Dryden. With the RCA Victor label, they scored Top-5 hits with the drug-induced, psychedelic "Somebody To Love" (1967) and "White Rabbit" (1967). Jefferson Airplane performed at the historic Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967, Woodstock in 1969 and the ill-fated "Altamont Free Concert" in late 1969. During this period, Kantner started a romance with Grace Slick which produced their daughter China (born in 1971) who went on to become an actress. During the 1970s, a name change took place. Now calling themselves "Jefferson Starship" with a more mellow tone, they scored Top-Ten hits with "Miracles" (1975) and "Count On Me" (1978). Kantner departed in 1984 which sparked a legal wrangle over the name of the band. "Jefferson Airplane" was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He died of complications from multiple organ failure on the same day as fellow Jefferson Airplane member, Signe Toly Anderson.
Rock Musician. A rhythm guitarist, he was a founding member of the influential 1960s rock band "Jefferson Airplane." His mother died when he was eight years old, he was sent to live in a Jesuit military boarding school, when his traveling salesman father could not care for him. After attending the University of Santa Clara and San Jose State College, he focused fully on music and performed as a folk artist on the San Francisco club scene. He met singer Marty Balin in 1965 and enlisted lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, lead singer Signe Toly Anderson (who was replaced by Grace Slick prior to their commercial success) and drummers Skip Spence & Spencer Dryden. With the RCA Victor label, they scored Top-5 hits with the drug-induced, psychedelic "Somebody To Love" (1967) and "White Rabbit" (1967). Jefferson Airplane performed at the historic Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967, Woodstock in 1969 and the ill-fated "Altamont Free Concert" in late 1969. During this period, Kantner started a romance with Grace Slick which produced their daughter China (born in 1971) who went on to become an actress. During the 1970s, a name change took place. Now calling themselves "Jefferson Starship" with a more mellow tone, they scored Top-Ten hits with "Miracles" (1975) and "Count On Me" (1978). Kantner departed in 1984 which sparked a legal wrangle over the name of the band. "Jefferson Airplane" was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He died of complications from multiple organ failure on the same day as fellow Jefferson Airplane member, Signe Toly Anderson.
Bio by: C.S.
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