Paul Kantner

Paul Lorin Kantner was born on Mar. 17, 1941 in San Francisco, CA. He found himself at a permanent proximity to the music world upon entering his teen years in the 1950s, accessing rock and roll as both a personal oasis and as a means of civil protest. Kantner enrolled in Santa Clara University and San Jose State College, though he dropped out of school before earning his degree. In 1965, Kantner met musician Marty Balin, and the two formed the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane. Early inductees to the band included bassist Jack Casady, drummer Spencer Dryden, singer Grace Slick and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. The band's success and popularity escalated over the remainder of the '60s; at the same time, Kantner and Slick enjoyed a romantic relationship, releasing albums together and bearing a daughter, China, in 1971. Personal disputes among members led to a fissure of Jefferson Airplane by 1972. At this point, Jefferson Airplane gave way to the bands Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna, each of which featured Kantner in a prominent role. Kantner suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 1980, though made a substantial recovery. By 1984, he had cut ties with Jefferson Starship due to a distaste for the band's creative direction, going on to form-once again with Balin-the short-lived KBC Band. Although they disbanded by 1987, Kantner would find reason to unite again with Balin and Slick (despite residual conflict) as well as fellow former collaborators under the Jefferson Airplane banner, first in 1989 and then again in 1996. At this time, Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, marking the first reunion of all founding members since the original disbanding. Kantner focused on alternative projects in his later years, including spoken word poetry. In March of 2015, Kantner suffered a heart attack, followed by another in January of 2016; he died on Jan. 28, 2016 from organ failure. He was survived by his two sons, Gareth and Alexander, and daughter (with Slick) China.