Photo by Alex Kluft
What a day today. My pal Myron Hart and I flew out to LA to join Jack and Grace and a host of others for the placement of our star on the Walk Of Fame on Hollywood Blvd! What a treat and an honor!
Photo by Alex Kluft
There was so much going on and so many pictures it was hard to pick the ones for this entry.
Photo by Alex Kluft
Photo by Alex Kluft
Here’s the little acceptance speech I delivered.
Thursday, October 13, 2022
- Thanks to Jeff Jampol & Associates. None of this would have happened without them.
- Thanks to John Densmore of the Doors for this introduction! Paul Williams of Crawdaddy collared me around the time of Monterey Pop and told me to listen to your first album. He said it would be the most innovative rock album I would be likely to hear… and he would be right. Thanks brother!
- When I think about our old band, Jefferson Airplane, at moments like this, I think of what I consider to be the core members from those early halcyon years, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Spenser Dryden, Jack Casady, Signe Anderson and myself. Marty, Paul, Spencer and Signe are sadly gone, but not forgotten. It is a blessing to still be standing here with longtime friends Grace and Jack. We all traveled many miles together making music. Only touring musicians will fully appreciate this bond. It is one that can never be broken.
- Today we are practically around the corner from the Mark Twain Hotel on Wilcox where the band spent many nights before recording at the RCA studios at Sunset and Ivar a lifetime ago. LA was a home away from home as we recorded back then, and in an odd way it is still home. All those early times have become zeitgeists for me today.
- We were all young together in those moments and were fortunate not only to make music, but to make music that the world would hear. As an artist, who could want for more.
- My father was a Angeleno. He grew up in Lincoln Heights and he and the rest of the Kaukonens who came west a century ago are buried here in L.A. Mom is too. Dad complained about my choice of an occupation early on in my career. He would grudgingly allow that I had a real job as time would unfold. This star would probably put a wry smile on his face and gain some approval for a firmament of choices made by his sometimes errant son.
- Finally, if all the gods have aligned in today’s wired world, my wife Vanessa, daughter Izze and son Zach are watching the Old Man and his cohorts receive this honor from a continent away! I love you guys!
- This is all an honor that would have been unthinkable when I was young, but as an 81 year old man… I’ll take it!
Thank you….
There were sundry friends there but here’s a couple.
Selfie by Jorma Kaukonen
Dr. Drake and I have been pals since he was the President of Ohio State. I fine guitar player in his own right!
Photo by Myron Hart
Curtis of course is a well known actor… but that’s not how we met. We met at McCabe’s over a decade ago. He and his daughter, Lily, came to see me play. I had just seen a YouTube video of Lily playing Hesitation Blues and I talked about it onstage… after the set, there they were. I cannot count the friends I have made playing a lifetime of guitar music and hopefully I’m not done yet.
It’s been a great and memorable day!
Congratulations Jorma, Jack, Grace….I was a little behind on reading your blog. My 16 year old daughter Tali and I had declared Saturday morning electric Hot Tuna day and listened to Yellow Fever and Hoppkorv in their entirety. Next up Sunday, I watched Fly Jefferson Airplane documentary. After watching Marty get arrested by NYPD, I took a break and went to the blog to discover you had the star placed on the walk of fame.
A great ending to a great weekend!
Thank you for all the music,
John M.
Well earned!
Congrats to Jorma, Jack, Grace, Paul, Marty, Skip, Signe, and all Airplane alumni and family!
Congats, Jorma. Jefferson Airplane was, is, and always will be one of my favorite groups.
Well deserved!
Casually-spoken band spokesperson Jack…
There was a palpable good vibe to this gathering and well-deserved credit…
There is too much to describe loaded in that star…
Gang-leader Grace is a trip…
Congrats on the Star..Now maybe a Hot Tuna Star too?
so the video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHmo7EAboM
The Jorma, Jack and Grace speeches showed such gratitude that made me proud that they’ve been a favorite of mine since 1972. Grace is so typically Grace: “I am one lucky bitch!”
Congrats
Wayne
Yeah Wayne… Grace never lets us down… ever….
ever!
Jorma
A well deserved Mazel ! As I understand it, Paul was there in more than spirit, Grace is wearing his hat
Super happy for you, Jack, Grace, and all JA members Jorma! You looked terrific up there. So glad you’re healthy and look forward to hearing and seeing my next Hot Tuna performance!
Jorma,
It was so cool seeing you guys as I watched the stream. You all deserve the continued recognition for your music and contributions! Congratulations to Grace,Jack and you and to Signe,Marty,Paul and Skip as they RIP!
See you in December in Florence,Ma.
Always an honor!
Jim Tulgan Ii
Thank you for posting your remarks, Jorma. As is the case with everything you write, they are right on the mark.
Awesome and well deserved – congratulations!
I watched the live stream on YouTube. There was lots of supportive banter and commenting throughout the ceremony… like the old FPR Quarantine Concert days!
Congratulations on a well deserved honor. Yikes… this was a good day!
Congrats on just one more honor to your storied career. It was so nice to see the smiles and laughter among three long time friends. I had just as big a smile as I watched it on the stream. I could listen to Grace talk for days.
Congratulations to all of you! A well deserved recognition of the many lives that you touched via JA.