On January 28, the news broke that Jefferson Airplane co-founder Paul Kantner passed away of a multiple organ failure after suffering a heart attack at the age of 74. We’ve now learned that original female vocalist for JF Signe Toly Anderson also passed away on the same day as a result of several long-time health problems, also at 74 years old.
“One sweet Lady has passed on,” the band’s co-founder Marty Balin posted. “I imagine that she and Paul woke up in heaven and said ‘Hey what are you doing here? Let’s start a band.’”
Anderson’s voice can be heard on the first Jefferson Airplane record, Takes Off, which includes “Chauffeur Blues”, perhaps her most well-known song. She left the band in late 1966 after becoming a mother, realizing road life was not fit for her. Her final performance was at the Fillmore on October 15, 1966. You can listen to the whole concert here:
When Anderson left the band, she returned to Oregon to settle. While there, she did participate in a big band headed by Carl Smith, and still made occasional guest appearances over the years with Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna. However, Grace Slick took her place as Jefferson Airplane’s female vocalist.
Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen wrote: “Signe was one of the strongest people I have ever met. She was our den mother in the early days of the Airplane … a voice of reason on more occasions than one … an important member of our dysfunctional little family.” Read more about Jorma’s emotional reaction on his blog post, entitled “Now We Are Four”.
Listen to Anderson’s “Chauffeur Blues” from her last performance with the band in 1966:
[Via Psychedelic Sight]