Jefferson Starship Acoustic

Paul Kantner, along with Marty Balin founded Jefferson Airplane in 1965. The Airplane was the biggest rock group in America during the 1960s and the first San Francisco band to sign a major record deal, paving the way for other legends like Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. They headlined the original Woodstock Festival in 1969 and like The Beatles with whom they are critically compared, lasted a mere seven years...though their influence and impact on rock music continues well into the 21st century.

In 1974 Mr. Kantner created Jefferson Starship and again with Mr. Balin, enjoyed chart-topping success. Paul, Marty and Jefferson Airplane were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, the same year as Pink Floyd. In 2005 they celebrated their 40th anniversary, playing 21 countries on their world tour. In 2007 they headlined "The Summer of Love 40th Anniversary Celebration" and performed at The Monterey Pop commemorative on the exact same stage as the historic landmark rock festival of 1967.

Jefferson Starship, the name created by Paul for his 1971 solo debut "Blows Against The Empire" recording has endured 37 years as rock music's premier "political science fiction" themed band. That recording was the first and only to ever be nominated for literary science fiction's Hugo Award…a stellar achievement.

Jefferson Starship Acoustic group includes Paul Kantner, David Freiberg, Chris Smith and Cathy Richardson.

DAVID FREIBERG is co-founder of the legendary Avalon/Carousel/Fillmore era San Francisco band who along with The Dead & The Airplane, often shared the bill. David is an extraordinary singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bass, viola and keyboards. He has also been a member of both Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship which he co-founded as a touring entity in 1974 … re-uniting with PAUL in 2005, after a 20 year absence. David co-wrote one of the band’s all-time biggest hits, “Jane” – which he performs.

CHRIS SMITH joined Jefferson Starship in 1998, instantly winning the job of keyboardist. Having toured with the Supremes and Lou Bega. Chris has gone on to place music in film and television including the #1 rated series “CSI.” In 2000, following the departure of bassist Jack Casady, Chris assumed the seeming impossible task of playing piano and (synth) bass simultaneously … a feat only duplicated by the legendary Ray Manzarek of The Doors. Chris has been keyboardist longer than any in the band’s fabled history.

CATHY RICHARDSON is Jefferson Starship's newest member, anchoring the historic ‘role’ made famous by Grace Slick. She is an award winning music artist, graphic artist, and clothing designer. Her professional credits include fronting her successful rock band, producing and releasing seven albums on her various indie record labels. She was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Art Direction of her band's 2003 release, “The Road to Bliss.” “The Road to Bliss” also received two DIY Awards (Do It Yourself in Film, Books and Music) for Album Art of the Year and Producer of the Year. Her latest release, “Delusions of Grandeur,” topped the 2007 DIYs when she won both Album and Producer of the Year.

She portrayed Janis Joplin in the original Off Broadway cast of the hit show “Love, Janis” and also in Chicago, Sag Harbor, NY, San Francisco, Phoenix and Tucson, and sings with Janis' original band members, Big Brother and the Holding Co. Also, Cathy is set to launch her new line of hand dyed, organic cotton yoga pants, Shining Shakti

As a top session singer, Richardson has recorded dozens of national commercials for companies like Kraft, McDonald's, Budweiser, Applebee's, Glade and State Farm Insurance. Her voice can be heard in the films Savage, HBO's the Vagina Monologues and Talledega Nights: the Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Saturday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Mount Dora Community Center
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