Marty Balin
b. Martyn Jerel Buchwald, 30 January 1943, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. A former painter, sculptor and dancer, Balin began his recording career in the early '60s. Two singles for Challenge, a prominent Los Angeles label, invoked the saccharine pop of the era, whereas two subsequent groups, the Town Criers and the Gateway Singers, were reminiscent of the New Christy Minstrels. Inspired by the Byrds’ Mr. Tambourine Man, the singer, who had relocated to San Francisco, founded Jefferson Airplane in August 1965. His compositions and voice were crucial to the group's initial momentum and their first three albums owed much to his romanticism. However, the balance of power began to shift as the unit became politicized and by the time of VOLUNTEERS (1969), the singer's role had been greatly reduced. 
Balin left the group in April 1971 and initially pursued a low-key existence. He produced an album for Grootna, several members of which then joined the singer for Bodacious D.F., a cumbersome unit whose only album was a great disappointment. Marty rejoined his former colleagues, now renamed Jefferson Starship, in 1975 when his cameo appearance, performing Caroline on DRAGONFLY proved popular. His return coincided with Starship's most successful period, which included a US number 1 single, the Balin-penned Miracles. Despite this success, in 1979 the singer again left the line-up, and having completed the soundtrack to ROCK JUSTICE, he embarked on a high-profile solo career. He scored a US Top 10 hit in 1981 with Hearts and a Top 30 hit that same year with Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love). However, much of the ensuing releases lacked a foil for the artist to pitch his stylish songs against and in 1986 he joined former Airplane stalwarts Paul Kantner and Jack Casady in the KBC Band. Finally, as the full circle was completed, the original Airplane was reformed in 1989, with Balin once more with his pioneering colleagues.