昨晚早睡，卻在午夜過後的一個半小時遭包覆全身的冬被裡的熱氣蒸醒。意外的看到手機上滑動的動態時報出現了一名女子的照片與死訊。她是 Signe Toly Anderson，加州迷幻團體 Jefferson Airplane 於1965年成軍時的第一仼女主唱，在 Airplane 的第一張專輯完成及各地的巡迴演出後，因小孩出世需以家庭為重而離團。 看著這位當年的小女生的照片，有著一種莫名的親切感，她沒有後來接手主唱位置的 Grace Slick 亮眼，却充满了屬於那個動盪年代的 Flower Children 的清麗模樣。 如果 Jefferson Airplane 一直由她擔仼主唱，她那左右兩邊各紮了蝴蝶結的中分素直髮型及那嬉皮與世無爭所透露出的天真笑容與眼神，會不會讓剛剛起飛之後的 Airplane 有著不一樣的高度與視野？ Signe Anderson 逝於幾天前的1月28日，74歲，巧合的與 Jefferson Airplane 的創始成員 Paul Kantner 同樣的歲數同一天離開，而死訊於昨日才被公開發佈。 那幾個小時前，我是不是被她喚醒的？ http://youtu.be/88BBAbtSV8k

Jefferson Airplane’s Signe Toly Anderson, Cow Palace in San Francisco. June 24, 1966.

Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin and Signe Toly Anderson, Cow Palace in San Francisco June 24,1966.

1941-2016

In the beginning, there was Signe Toly Anderson. While Grace Slick was singing with The Great Society, Signe was the frontwoman for the Jefferson Airplane. Although she left the band in 1966 to raise a family, Signe - a respected jazz singer from Portland, Oregon - continued to sing. In 2014, she was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. Sadly, she passed at the same age and on the same day as Airplane founder Paul Kantner. RIP, gracious lady.

RIP Signe Toly Anderson, founding member and original female singer of Jefferson Airplane. Playing with Paul once again. Flying high to the other side of this life.

We were just checking into the hotel in Santa Monica this afternoon… I’ve got a solo gig at McCabe's Music Shop tonight… I got a call from Grace who told me that Signe, the Airplane’s first female voice, passed on the same day as Paul. 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. Flights of angels sing thee to thy rest sister… You will always live in my heart… Now we are four…

~Jorma Kaukonen

“She was a real sweetheart with a terrific contralto voice coming from a solid folk background. Listen to how she made the three part harmonies of ‘JA Takes Off’ (first album) sound so thick … her wonderful tone between Paul’s and Marty’s.”

~Jack Casady

“One sweet Lady has passed on. I imagine that she and Paul woke up in heaven and said ‘Hey what are you doing here? Let’s start a band’ and no sooner then said Spencer was there joining in!”

~Marty Balin

Signe Toly Anderson’s daughter broke the news Saturday that her mother passed away the same day as Paul Kantner, January 28 (the family kept it private till today). Heartbreaking :(

RIP Signe Toly Anderson.

She and Paul Kantner passed away on the same day :(

Vancouver, British Columbia 1966.

Jefferson Airplane’s Signe Toly Anderson.

Happy birthday Signe!

Probably the earliest recording of Jefferson Airplane, pre-Jack Casady. c. September, 1965.

Jefferson Airplane made their debut 50 years ago today - August 13, 1965!

Signe Toly Anderson with Paul Kantner, 1993.