Jorma Kaukonen

I had the privilege of attending my favorite festival of the year for the fifth year in a row, and I am here to tell you about the best place on Earth. I would travel across several oceans to get to this festival. It is one that if you haven’t experienced, it should be placed on your bucket list. I’d like to start this tale of Dark Star Jubilee, held at Legend Valley, in Thornville Ohio, each Memorial Day weekend, with some words from the band, written in each schedule passed out:

Conceived in 1989 by Jorma & Vanessa Kaukonen, The Fur Peace Ranch is nestled in the rolling foothills of southeast Ohio. It is a place where both budding and seasoned musicians can immerse themselves and emerge with renewed inspiration and tangible progress in their music. Workshops are held throughout the Summer and into the Fall. Upcoming bass workshops are taught by master musicians Kai Eckardt and Bobby Vega.

Conceived in 1989 by Jorma & Vanessa Kaukonen, The Fur Peace Ranch is nestled in the rolling foothills of southeast Ohio. It is a place where both budding and seasoned musicians can immerse themselves and emerge with renewed inspiration and tangible progress in their music. Workshops are held throughout the Summer and into the Fall.  One of the highlights is Art of Jerry Garcia on exhibit now until August 1st, 2016 (Jerry's birthday).

Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, aka Hot Tuna and founding members of Jefferson Airplane, will perform two of their Jefferson Airplane hits on the GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends®, a special being filmed for the landmark “Great Performances” series on PBS on Saturday, April 23. The following day the GRAMMY Museum welcomes Jorma and Jack to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate conversation on their esteemed career.

An artist from childhood who was painting in oils by the age of seventeen, Jerry Garcia in his youth thought of himself as “an artist who played music,” Throughout the years of his prodigious musical output he continued drawing and painting.

Essential and far-reaching Jorma Kaukonen goes out on tour. In a career that has already spanned a half-century Jorma Kaukonen is one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots, blues and rock music. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he is a founding member of two legendary bands, Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna. Jorma Kaukonen’s repertoire goes far beyond psychedelic rock; he is a guitar legend and an expressive singer-songwriter. (www.Jorma Kaukonen.com)

I first saw Jorma play an acoustic solo show in 1980 at the Palace Theatre in Albany, New York.  I remember shooting a bunch of photos of him playing that night, and I tried to find my film negatives before seeing him Friday night at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California.  I wasn’t able to find my old pics, but I’m glad I couldn’t.  Because to really experience the wonder that is Jorma (instant recognition from just his first name speaks to his sing

Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady celebrate 50 Years of JEFFERSON AIRPLANE with special guest performances on Friday, September 11th at the Lockn' Music Festival.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jorma Kaukonen is premiering his new album, Ain't In No Hurry, this week at NPR Folk Alley's as their "Hear It Now" selection. The album will be released through Red House Records on February 17, 2015. The accompanying interview finds the artist sharing thoughts on the album and his ability to stay inspired  after more than 50 years as a songwriter and performer.

Bill Thompson, manager of Jefferson Airplane and subsequently the spinoffs Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna and Starship, died of a heart attack yesterday, Jan. 12, in Mill Valley, Calif. Thompson was 70. "One of the more colorful managers in rock history, and a beloved figure within the Bay Area music scene, Thompson guided the various bands through both great successes and years-long personal and legal entanglements." Relix