Signe Toly Anderson (/ˈsɪɡni/SIG-nee;[1] born Signe Toly; September 15, 1941 – January 28, 2016) was an American singer who was one of the founding members of the American rock band Jefferson Airplane.
Anderson was born Signe Toly in Seattle, Washington on September 15, 1941.[2] When she was three, her parents divorced, and she moved with her mother to Portland, Oregon, where she was raised.[3] Anderson sang in a band with three male musicians whom she had known in high school under the name Three Guys and a Gal. The group performed at a campaign event for John F. Kennedy in November 1959.[4]
Jefferson AirplaneEdit
Anderson was a locally known and well-respected jazz and folk singer in San Francisco, where Marty Balin heard her perform and invited her to join his band, soon named Jefferson Airplane.[2]
Soon after joining the Airplane, she married one of the Merry Pranksters, Jerry Anderson, a marriage that lasted from 1965 to 1974. She sang on the first Jefferson Airplane album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, most notably on the song "Chauffeur Blues".[5] Anderson distrusted the Airplane's original manager Matthew Katz and refused to sign a contract with him until he inserted a special escape clause freeing her from him if she left the band for any reason.[6]
In July 1966, Anderson informed Bill Graham that she was quitting the band after a series of shows they were playing in Chicago, realizing that bringing her newborn child, with then-husband Jerry Anderson, on the road was not feasible. Graham, however, asked her to stay with the band through the October shows at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, to which she agreed.[1] This gave the band time to search for her successor, eventually choosing Grace Slick after Sherry Snow declined their offer.[7] Allegedly there were other factors, such as the hostility of other band members toward her husband.[8]
Anderson's last live performances with Jefferson Airplane were two sets on October 15, 1966, at The Fillmore.[5] Both performances were recorded (as were most Fillmore shows) and have surfaced on some bootleg albums. At what seemed to be the end of the second set, Marty Balin announced that Anderson was leaving the group. Her farewell to the audience was: "I want you all to wear smiles and daisies and box balloons. I love you all. Thank you and goodbye." At several fans' requests, Anderson and the band performed her signature number "Chauffeur Blues". They finished the night with "High Flying Bird". In August 2010, Collector's Choice music in cooperation with Sony released this show as Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 10/15/66: Late Show – Signe's Farewell.[9][10]
Later lifeEdit
After leaving the Airplane, Anderson returned to Oregon, where she sang for nine years with Carl Smith and the Natural Gas Company.[11] In the mid-1970s, she recovered from cancer.[2] In 1977, she married local building contractor Michael Alois Ettlin, and continued to sing with Carl Smith.[12]
In the mid-1990s, Anderson suffered more health problems, including a broken neck and bypass surgery, which led to serious financial problems for her family.[8] She made guest appearances with the KBC Band and Jefferson Starship. Anderson's husband Michael Alois Ettlin died at the age of 62 on February 21, 2011.[2]
Her former bandmate Jorma Kaukonen wrote a public tribute honoring her, stating: "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. I always looked forward to seeing her when we played the Aladdin in Portland. She never complained and was always a joy."[13]
ReferencesEdit
^ abHarrison, Iris (October 26, 2010). . KGON. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
^ abcde"Signe Anderson, Jefferson Airplane Singer, Dies at 74". The New York Times. February 2, 2016. from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
^Italie, Hillel (January 31, 2016). "Seattle-born Signe Anderson, original Jefferson Airplane singer, dead at 74". The Seattle Times. from the original on February 8, 2020.
^ ab"Signe Anderson, Original Jefferson Airplane Singer, Dead at 74". Rolling Stone. January 31, 2016. from the original on July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
^Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Atria Books. p. 52. ISBN0671034030.
^Unterberger, R. (2003). Eight Miles High: Folk-rock's Flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock. Backbeat Books. p. 16. ISBN9780879307431. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
^ abTamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Atria Books. p. 105. ISBN0671034030.
^Valish, Frank (December 15, 2010). "Jefferson Airplane Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 10/15/66 Late Show – Signe's Farewell". Under the Radar. from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
^Ruhlmann, William. "Live at the Fillmore Auditorium 10/15/66: Late Show: Signe's Farewell". AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
^"Meet the Oregon Music Hall of Fame's Class of 2014". OregonLive.com. October 3, 2014. from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
^Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Atria Books. p. 361. ISBN0671034030.
^Stedman, Alex (January 31, 2016). "Signe Anderson, Jefferson Airplane's Original Female Vocalist, Dies at 74". Variety. from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
External linksEdit
Anderson's biography of the Jefferson Airplane website
August 29, 2023
signe, toly, anderson, born, signe, toly, september, 1941, january, 2016, american, singer, founding, members, american, rock, band, jefferson, airplane, anderson, 1966, jefferson, airplane, photobackground, informationbirth, namesigne, tolyborn, 1941, septemb. Signe Toly Anderson ˈ s ɪ ɡ n i SIG nee 1 born Signe Toly September 15 1941 January 28 2016 was an American singer who was one of the founding members of the American rock band Jefferson Airplane Signe Toly AndersonAnderson in a 1966 Jefferson Airplane photoBackground informationBirth nameSigne TolyBorn 1941 09 15 September 15 1941Seattle Washington U S DiedJanuary 28 2016 2016 01 28 aged 74 Beaverton Oregon U S GenresRockfolk rockbluesOccupation s SingerYears active1965 1997 Contents 1 Early life 2 Jefferson Airplane 3 Later life 4 Death 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditAnderson was born Signe Toly in Seattle Washington on September 15 1941 2 When she was three her parents divorced and she moved with her mother to Portland Oregon where she was raised 3 Anderson sang in a band with three male musicians whom she had known in high school under the name Three Guys and a Gal The group performed at a campaign event for John F Kennedy in November 1959 4 Jefferson Airplane EditAnderson was a locally known and well respected jazz and folk singer in San Francisco where Marty Balin heard her perform and invited her to join his band soon named Jefferson Airplane 2 Soon after joining the Airplane she married one of the Merry Pranksters Jerry Anderson a marriage that lasted from 1965 to 1974 She sang on the first Jefferson Airplane album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off most notably on the song Chauffeur Blues 5 Anderson distrusted the Airplane s original manager Matthew Katz and refused to sign a contract with him until he inserted a special escape clause freeing her from him if she left the band for any reason 6 In July 1966 Anderson informed Bill Graham that she was quitting the band after a series of shows they were playing in Chicago realizing that bringing her newborn child with then husband Jerry Anderson on the road was not feasible Graham however asked her to stay with the band through the October shows at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco to which she agreed 1 This gave the band time to search for her successor eventually choosing Grace Slick after Sherry Snow declined their offer 7 Allegedly there were other factors such as the hostility of other band members toward her husband 8 Anderson s last live performances with Jefferson Airplane were two sets on October 15 1966 at The Fillmore 5 Both performances were recorded as were most Fillmore shows and have surfaced on some bootleg albums At what seemed to be the end of the second set Marty Balin announced that Anderson was leaving the group Her farewell to the audience was I want you all to wear smiles and daisies and box balloons I love you all Thank you and goodbye At several fans requests Anderson and the band performed her signature number Chauffeur Blues They finished the night with High Flying Bird In August 2010 Collector s Choice music in cooperation with Sony released this show as Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 10 15 66 Late Show Signe s Farewell 9 10 Later life EditAfter leaving the Airplane Anderson returned to Oregon where she sang for nine years with Carl Smith and the Natural Gas Company 11 In the mid 1970s she recovered from cancer 2 In 1977 she married local building contractor Michael Alois Ettlin and continued to sing with Carl Smith 12 In the mid 1990s Anderson suffered more health problems including a broken neck and bypass surgery which led to serious financial problems for her family 8 She made guest appearances with the KBC Band and Jefferson Starship Anderson s husband Michael Alois Ettlin died at the age of 62 on February 21 2011 2 Death EditAnderson died at her home in Beaverton Oregon at the age of 74 on January 28 2016 from the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD 2 She died a few hours after Jefferson Airplane co founder Paul Kantner died also at age 74 Her former bandmate Jorma Kaukonen wrote a public tribute honoring her stating 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 I always looked forward to seeing her when we played the Aladdin in Portland She never complained and was always a joy 13 References Edit a b Harrison Iris October 26 2010 Iris Harrison talks to Signe Anderson founding member of Jefferson Airplane KGON Archived from the original on September 12 2015 Retrieved February 13 2016 a b c d e Signe Anderson Jefferson Airplane Singer Dies at 74 The New York Times February 2 2016 Archived from the original on February 9 2016 Retrieved July 4 2016 Italie Hillel January 31 2016 Seattle born Signe Anderson original Jefferson Airplane singer dead at 74 The Seattle Times Archived from the original on February 8 2020 Anderson Signe 2011 Interview Signe Toly Anderson Interview Interviewed by KGON Portland Oregon 00 40 a b Signe Anderson Original Jefferson Airplane Singer Dead at 74 Rolling Stone January 31 2016 Archived from the original on July 17 2016 Retrieved July 4 2016 Tamarkin Jeff 2003 Got a Revolution The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane Atria Books p 52 ISBN 0671034030 Unterberger R 2003 Eight Miles High Folk rock s Flight from Haight Ashbury to Woodstock Backbeat Books p 16 ISBN 9780879307431 Retrieved August 30 2015 a b Tamarkin Jeff 2003 Got a Revolution The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane Atria Books p 105 ISBN 0671034030 Valish Frank December 15 2010 Jefferson Airplane Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 10 15 66 Late Show Signe s Farewell Under the Radar Archived from the original on August 8 2016 Retrieved July 4 2016 Ruhlmann William Live at the Fillmore Auditorium 10 15 66 Late Show Signe s Farewell AllMusic Retrieved September 15 2019 Meet the Oregon Music Hall of Fame s Class of 2014 OregonLive com October 3 2014 Archived from the original on September 16 2016 Retrieved July 4 2016 Tamarkin Jeff 2003 Got a Revolution The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane Atria Books p 361 ISBN 0671034030 Stedman Alex January 31 2016 Signe Anderson Jefferson Airplane s Original Female Vocalist Dies at 74 Variety Archived from the original on September 5 2017 Retrieved September 4 2017 External links EditAnderson s biography of the Jefferson Airplane website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Signe Toly Anderson amp oldid 1172120671, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
