Jefferson Airplane
WHO | HONOREE Jefferson Airplane
EMCEE Lupita Sanchez Cornejo, Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
GUEST SPEAKERS John Densmore of The Doors
WHAT Dedication of the 2,737th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
WHEN Thursday, October 13, at 11:30 AM PT in front of Musician’s Institute
WHERE 6752 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
WATCH LIVE The event will be streamed live exclusively at walkoffame.com
Jefferson Airplane was honored today with the 2,737th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Recording. The star was dedicated at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard in front of The Musician’s Institute. Accepting the star on behalf of the band were Grace Slick, Jack Casady, and Jorma Kaukonen.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has proudly hosted the globally iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1960. The Chamber exists to transform business and improve lives. Through the Walk of Fame, the Chamber celebrates the business that transforms us all – the business of entertainment. Entertainment is a unique blend of art and enterprise; elevating and inspiring us all.
ABOUT OUR HONOREES
“This ceremony will bring many great memories to those with a love for music of the 60s and 70s,” stated Walk of Fame Producer Ana Martinez. “We are proud to add this iconic psychedelic rock band to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and to place their star in front of Musician’s Institute makes for a special added touch,” she added.
Joining emcee Lupita Sanchez Cornejo for the star unveiling was John Densmore of The Doors.
Jefferson Airplane rose to fame in the San Francisco psychedelic rock scene, where they pioneered the music which defined the 1960s and embodied the spirit of the counterculture movement. With their seven studio albums, five of which went gold, two live LPs and two top 10 singles, “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love,” Jefferson Airplane solidified their legacy as one of the most prolific and vital groups from the era.
From October 1966 to February 1970, the classic Airplane lineup consisted of Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass) and Spencer Dryden (drums).
The band started out playing in San Francisco, highlighted by their breakout at Bill Graham’s first legendary show at the Fillmore Auditorium. Graham would later become the group’s manager for a period and take them touring across the country.
The group’s debut LP, entitled Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, was released in August of 1966 and featured Signe Toly Anderson on lead vocals. Their second LP, entitled Surrealistic Pillow, with Slick on lead vocals was released in February of 1967. This LP assisted in launching the group to international fame with hit singles such as “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love” both hitting Top 10 on the Billboard chart.
In the following years the band released their third and fourth albums, After Bathing at Baxter’s and Crown of Creation, demonstrating a shift in their musical approach towards an emphasis on experimentation and a heavier sound. During this time they co-headlined a tour with The Doors in Europe in the summer of 1968 and were photographed for the cover of Life Magazine.
In August of 1969 at 7:00 am on a Sunday morning, Jefferson Airplane delivered an electric performance at Woodstock after waiting 17 hours to play. When they finally got onstage, Slick introduced the band’s performance as “morning maniac music”. This performance was one of many Jefferson Airplane festival appearances over the years. The group also performed at the Berkeley Folk Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey International Pop Festival, and Altamont over the span of their time together.
Jefferson Airplane went on to release many more successful albums, compilations, and live albums over the years. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER’S WALK OF FAME
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a celebration of art, entertainment, and all things Hollywood. Star ceremonies are broadcast worldwide, connecting fans with their favorite artists. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame on behalf of the City of Los Angeles. Honorees are selected by a committee of their peers. Sponsors fund the star, the ceremony and the maintenance of the legendary attraction. The Walk of Fame is free to all. To learn more and find your favorite stars, visit walkoffame.com.