Birth

:

June 5, 1936

Death

:

January 2, 2022

 

Jorma Kaukonen, born on December 23, 1940, in Washington D.C., is a renowned American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the psychedelic rock movement in the 1960s and his work with the band Jefferson Airplane. However, Kaukonen's musical career began long before his involvement with the band. Kaukonen's parents were both musicians, and he grew up surrounded by music. His father, Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Sr., was a Finnish-American who played piano and violin, while his mother, Beatrice Love (Levine), was a Jewish-American who played piano and sang. Kaukonen began playing guitar at the age of 13 and quickly became enamored with the instrument. He was particularly drawn to the fingerpicking style of blues guitarists such as Blind Blake and Reverend Gary Davis. In 1958, Kaukonen enrolled at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he met Ian Buchanan, a fellow guitarist who shared his love of blues music. The two began playing together and soon formed a band called The Triumphs. They played at local coffeehouses and bars, and Kaukonen's reputation as a skilled guitarist began to grow. In 1962, Kaukonen moved to California to attend Santa Clara University, where he continued to play music and perform at local venues. It was during this time that he met Paul Kantner, who would later become a founding member of Jefferson Airplane. Kaukonen and Kantner began playing together and soon formed a band called The Jefferson Airplane Blues Band, which also included singer Marty Balin, drummer Skip Spence, and bassist Bob Harvey. The band's name was later shortened to Jefferson Airplane, and they quickly became one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s. Kaukonen's fingerpicking style and blues influences were a key part of the band's sound, and his guitar work on songs such as "Embryonic Journey" and "White Rabbit" helped to define the psychedelic rock movement. Kaukonen remained with Jefferson Airplane until the band's dissolution in 1972. During this time, he also released several solo albums, including "Quah" (1974), which featured contributions from members of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, a band Kaukonen formed with bassist Jack Casady in 1969. After Jefferson Airplane disbanded, Kaukonen continued to perform and record with Hot Tuna, releasing a string of albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also collaborated with other musicians, including blues legend Papa John Creach and former Grateful Dead keyboardist Merl Saunders. In addition to his work as a musician, Kaukonen is also an accomplished teacher and has written several instructional books and DVDs on guitar playing. He has also taught at the Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp, which he founded in 1998. Kaukonen's contributions to music have been recognized with several awards and honors. In 1996, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Jefferson Airplane. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Americana Music Association in 2008. Despite his many accomplishments, Kaukonen remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to perform and record music, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless musicians who have been inspired by his innovative guitar playing and unique musical vision.

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