Marty Balin's father was Jewish and his mother was Episcopalian.
17 Facts About Marty Balin
2.
In 1962, Buchwald changed his name to Marty Balin, and began recording with Challenge Records in Los Angeles, releasing the singles "Nobody But You" and "I Specialize in Love".
3.
Marty Balin was the primary founder of Jefferson Airplane, which he "launched" from a restaurant-turned-club he created and named The Matrix, and was one of its lead vocalists and songwriters from 1965 to 1971.
4.
Marty Balin was one of four Jewish members of the band, including bass player Jack Casady, drummer Spencer Dryden and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen.
5.
Marty 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.
6.
Marty Balin played with Jefferson Airplane at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and at the Woodstock Festival in 1969.
7.
In December 1969, Marty 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.
8.
Marty Balin elaborated upon this decision in a 1993 interview with Jeff Tamarkin of Relix:.
9.
Marty Balin abruptly left the group in October 1978 shortly after Slick's departure from the band.
10.
In 1979, Marty Balin produced a rock opera titled Rock Justice, 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.
11.
Marty Balin continued with EMI as a solo artist and in 1981 he released his first solo album, Marty Balin, featuring two Jesse Barish songs that became top-40 hits, "Hearts" and "Atlanta Lady ".
12.
Marty Balin continued recording solo albums in the years following the reunion, and reunited with Kantner in the latest incarnation of Jefferson Starship.
13.
Marty Balin had intended to record lead vocals for two tracks for Jefferson Starship's album Jefferson's Tree of Liberty.
14.
On July 2,2007, the music-publishing firm Bicycle Music, Inc announced that it had acquired an interest in songs written or performed by Marty Balin, including hits from his days with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.
15.
Marty Balin painted many of the most influential musicians of the last half of the 20th century.
16.
Marty Balin resided in Florida and San Francisco with his wife, Susan Joy Marty Balin, formerly Susan Joy Finkelstein.
17.
Marty Balin died at his home in Tampa on September 27,2018, at the age of 76.