Died On This Date (January 28, 2016) Paul Kantner / Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship

Paul Kantner
March 17, 1941 – January 28, 2016

Paul-KantnerPaul Kantner was the original lead guitarist for influential ’60s counterculture rock band, Jefferson Airplane.  Although the group was founded by singer, Marty Balin, Kanter quickly took over running things, and when Balin left, he lead its new incarnation, Jefferson Starship to even greater heights.  Formed in San Francisco in 1965, Jefferson Airplane was arguably the flash point of what would become known as psychedelic rock – rock music that was created to help enhance the experience of acid, and in particular, LSD.  Along with bands like the Grateful Dead the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane came to represent all that was associated with the Summer of Love.  But of all the bands on the scene, it was Jefferson Airplane that was the first to gain worldwide fandom and huge success.  Besides being the only band to play at all three major American rock festivals of the era – Monterey, Woodstock, and Altamont, they scored early hits with “White Rabbit” and “Somebody To Love.”  In spite of their initial success, the band suffered from turmoil from within.  When the original Jefferson Airplane disbanded in the early ’70s, Jefferson Starship resurfaced and went to release such hit albums as Red Octopus, Earth, Spitfire and Freedom at Point Zero.  Their hit singles during this period included, “With Your Love,” “Jane,” “Miracles,” and “Count on Me.” They broke up in 1984, but Kantner and Balin reformed it in 1991, with Kanter continuing to perform and record under this moniker as recently as 2013.  In 1996, Kantner and his Jefferson Airplane band mates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.   In March of 2015, Kantner suffered a serious heart attack but was able to take the stage with the band later that year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jefferson Airplane.  In January of 2016, Kantner again suffered a heart attack but this time it led to his death just days later. He died of multiple organ failure on January 28, 2016.  He was 74.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 17, 2012) Donna Summer / Disco Icon

Donna Summer (Born LaDonna Gaines)
December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012

Donna Summer was a world-renowned American R&B singer who hit her stride during the disco era.  Unlike many of her contemporaries, Summer, with her mezzo-soprano vocal range, needed very little studio trickery for her vocals.  Coming of age in Boston during the early ’60s, Summer spent countless hours listening to records by and imitating the likes of the Supremes and Martha & the Vandellas. By then she had already been singing in church gospel groups.  As the ’60s rolled on, Summer discovered the powerhouse vocals of Janis Joplin, who, along with the early girl groups, influenced her own singing. Upon hearing Joplin sing on her Big Brother and the Holding Company records, she decided that’s what she wanted to do, so she joined her first band as lead singer, the psychedelic rock outfit, Crow.   That brought her to New York City where she focused on Broadway.  Her first role of significance was in the European company of Hair!. In 1975, Summer cut her first record, “Love To Love You Baby,” which although banned by most American radio stations due to its raw sexuality, became an instant smash in Europe.  From there it was a deal with Neil Bogart’s Casablanca Records who began pumping an extended version of the song to underground discos and Summer’s massive gay following was born.  She went on to release several albums that helped define the disco era and became the first artist to have three consecutive #1 albums that were two-record sets.  During the ’80s, Summer broke away from disco by adding a more rock sound to her records, and even though she had tracks on the soundtracks for the blockbuster films, Flashdance and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the decade was not terribly kind to her.  She continued to make records well into the 2000s – some faring better than others, but for the most part were very well received.  Throughout her career, Summer was recognized with five Grammy awards (17 nominations), three multi-platinum albums, 11 gold albums, an NAACP Image Award, and six American Music Awards.  Her songs have been covered (or sampled) by Sheena Easton, David Guetta, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and many more.  Donna Summer passed away after a long struggle with cancer on May 17, 2012.  She was 63.

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On the Radio - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2 - Donna Summer

Died On This Date (June 1, 2008) Alton Kelley / Famed Psychedelic Rock Poster Artist

Alton Kelley
June 17, 1940 – June 1, 2008

Alton Kelley, was a  graphic artist who created some of the most iconic images in rock history.  Along with partner, Stanley Mouse, Kelly created the “skull and roses” logo for the Grateful Dead.  He was also designed or co-designed album covers or posters for such acts as Steve Miller Band, Journey, Jimi Hendrix, Big Brother & The Holding Company, and Quicksilver Messenger Service.   He helped launch concert poster as a legitimate art form.  Alton Kelley died after a long struggle with osteoporosis at the age of 67.

kelley

Died On This Date (October 4, 1970) Janis Joplin / Rock Icon; 27 Club

Janis Joplin
January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970

Member of the 27 Club

Janis Joplin was a pioneering female rock ‘n roll star in an era that saw very few of them.  Born and raised in east Texas, Joplin had a rebellious streak from an early age.   As the rock ‘n roll stereotype goes, she was an outcast who found solace in music of her idols, in this case, Lead Belly, Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton.   Joplin left Texas for San Francisco in 1963.    Building a name for herself throughout the scene due to her passionate bluesy singing style,  Joplin was hired by local psychedelic rock favorites, Big Brother and the Holding Company to be their lead singer.   Signed to Columbia Records, the group soon became a breakout act of the San Francisco scene.  Thanks to a few key festival performances, television appearances and such dynamic records as “Ball and Chain” and “Piece of my Heart,” Joplin was universally being touted as one of rock’s greatest voices.   Sadly though, she was waging a battle against hard drugs and alcohol, and to some, each performance seemed like it might be her last.    The band broke up in December of 1970, with Joplin embarking on a solo career.  All the while battling her demons, Joplin recorded what would be her swansong album, Pearl.  The album contained the two rock classics, “Me and Bobby McGhee,” and “Mercedes Benz,” but would not come out until after her death.  On October 4, 1970, when she failed to arrive at the recording studio to work on some finishing touches for Pearl, her band’s road manager drove over to her hotel and found lifeless body.  Janis Joplin was dead of a heroin overdose at the age of 27.

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Pearl - Janis Joplin