Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.
Hot Tuna began during a hiatus in Jefferson Airplane's touring schedule in early 1969 while Grace Slick was undergoing recovery from throat node surgery that had left her unable to perform. Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Paul Kantner, and new drummer Joey Covington played several shows around San Francisco including the Airplane's original club, The Matrix before Jefferson Airplane returned to performing in April to support the album Volunteers. Although Covington had been hired as Jefferson Airplane's drummer, Spencer Dryden continued to perform with the Airplane and Covington was only called when needed. Their early repertoire was derived mainly from Airplane material that Jorma played and covers of American country blues artists such as Rev. Gary Davis, Jelly Roll Morton, Bo Carter and Arthur Blake (Blind Blake). In addition to these shows, Jack & Jorma would play as a duo with Jorma on acoustic guitar. In September, 1969, the week of concerts performed at New Orleans House in Berkeley was recorded and released as a live album in 1970, Hot Tuna. This album is affectionately known by Tunaphiles as the "breaking glass album", because of the sound of breaking beer glasses during the recording of "Uncle Sam Blues". Jorma's brother Peter Kaukonen soon replaced Paul on rhythm guitar and Marty Balin joined on vocals for the electric songs. Starting in October 1969, Hot Tuna would perform as opening act to Jefferson Airplane with a combination of both electric and acoustic sets, giving Kaukonen and Casady an opportunity to explore their love of traditional blues music, and also giving Balin and Covington a chance to explore soul-rock compositions. In 1970, RCA paid for the band to go to Jamaica to record their next album, now with Paul Ziegler taking over Peter's spot, but the album was never finished. Papa John Creach was brought in to the band in late 1970 (Creach also joined Jefferson Airplane at the same time) and Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna finished their co-tour in November 1970 with shows at the Fillmore East.
- Jack Casady – bass (1969–present)
- Jorma Kaukonen – guitars, vocals (1969–present)
- Paul Kantner – rhythm guitar (1969, 1987–1988)
- Joey Covington – drums (1969–1970)
- Peter Kaukonen – rhythm guitar (1969–1970, 1989–1990)
- Will Scarlett – harmonica (1969–1971)
- Marty Balin – vocals (1969–1970)
- Paul Ziegler – rhythm guitar (1970)
- Papa John Creach – electric violin (1970–1973)
- Sammy Piazza – drums (1970–1973)
- Bob Steeler – drums (1974–1977)
- Greg Douglass – 2nd lead guitar (1975)
- Nick Buck – keyboards (1977)
- Michael Falzarano – rhythm guitar (1983, 1990–2002)
- Shigemi Komiyama – drums (1983)
- Joey Balin – rhythm guitar (1986–1987)
- Joey Stefko – drums (1988–1990)
- Galen Underwood – keyboards (1989–1990)
- Harvey Sorgen – drums (1990–2000)
- Pete Sears – keyboards (1992–2000)
- Barry Mitterhoff – mandolin (2002–present)
- Erik Diaz – drums (2004–2009)
- Skoota Warner – drums (2009–present)
Hot Tuna.1970- Hot Tuna (2008)
Hot Tuna.1971- First Pull Up, Then Pull Down (2008)
Hot Tuna.1972- Burgers (2008)
Hot Tuna.1973- The Phosphorescent Rat (2008)
Hot Tuna.1975- America's Choice (2008)
Hot Tuna.1975- Yellow Fever (2008)
Hot Tuna.1976- Hoppkorv (2008)
Hot Tuna.1978- Double Dose (2CD, 2010)
Hot Tuna.1979- Final Vinyl (2008)
Hot Tuna.1984- Splashdown
Hot Tuna.1985- Historic Live Tuna (1991)
Hot Tuna.1990- Pair A Dice Found
Hot Tuna.1992- Live At Sweetwater (2004)
Hot Tuna.1993- Live At Sweetwater Two (2004)
Hot Tuna.1994- Best Of Grunt Trimmed And Burning (2007)
Hot Tuna.1996- Classic Hot Tuna Acoustic
Hot Tuna.1996- Classic Hot Tuna Electric
Hot Tuna.1996- Splashdown Two
Hot Tuna.1998- Live In Japan (2004)
Hot Tuna.1998- Live In Japan At Stove's Yokohoma City
Hot Tuna.1999- And Furthurmore
Hot Tuna.2003- Platinum & Gold
Hot Tuna.2006- Keep On Truckin' The Very Best Of Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna.2010- Live At New Orleans House Berkeley, CA 09 69
Hot Tuna.2011- Steady As She Goes
Jorma Kaukonen with Tom Hobson-(1974)-Quah
