Marty Balin Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Marty Balin Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Marty Balin is an American musician known for founding Jefferson Airplane and contributing seminal hits in the 1960s and 70s.

Introduction

Marty Balin (born January 30, 1942) emerged as a defining voice in the San Francisco rock scene, co-founding the iconic band Jefferson Airplane and later contributing to Jefferson Starship. Over the span of his career he amassed an estimated net worth of approximately $20 million at the time of his death. In his personal life, he was married to Susan Joy Balin and fathered daughters Jennifer Edwards and Delaney Balin. His birthday falls on January 30 each year.

Quick Facts

From Bay Area Clubs to International Stages

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 30, 1942, Marty Balin—then Martyn Buchwald—moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where his early love of music and art flourished.  He took his first steps in recording in 1962 and, not satisfied with the folk-only scene around him, he helped establish the club The Matrix in 1965, which became a crucible for the emerging “San Francisco sound.” 

Inside that club and beyond, Balin formed Jefferson Airplane—a band that would go on to play the legendary Monterey Pop and Woodstock festivals and help define 1960s counter-culture. 

Defining moments in Marty Balin’s journey include:

• Opening The Matrix club and launching Jefferson Airplane as its house band.

• Writing and singing key songs for Jefferson Airplane, including “Today” and “Comin’ Back to Me.” 

• Transitioning into Jefferson Starship in the mid-1970s and achieving major hits such as “Miracles” and “With Your Love.” 

• Launching a solo career in the early-1980s, with Top 10 single “Hearts” in 1981. 

• Remaining active in music and art well into the 2000s, including painting large-scale portraits of fellow musicians. 

Main Sources of Wealth

The core pillars of Marty Balin’s wealth include:

• Music catalog and royalties: Earnings from his time with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, and his solo work drove ongoing royalty income.

• Solo albums and touring: Success of his 1981 solo album Balin and follow-up releases added to his income stream.

• Art and licensing: Balin’s passion for painting and his art collection added a derivative source of value.

• Brand leverage and music rights deals: Catalog deals later in life helped monetize legacy assets.

Relationships & Family Life

Despite the pressures of rock-and-roll life, Marty Balin cultivated meaningful relationships. He married Susan Joy Balin, who survived him and publicly remembered their deep bond. Marty also had daughters Jennifer Edwards and Delaney Balin, plus step-daughters Rebekah and Moriah Geier.  Marty had previously been married to musician Karen Deal. 

Key insights into Marty Balin’s relationships and personal life:

• His marriage with Susan Joy was portrayed as a committed partnership until his passing.

• He embraced fatherhood and family life, while maintaining his artistic career.

• Though part of the 1960s rock era, he stayed grounded and engaged in the business side of his craft. 

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Marty Balin led a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• A longtime residence in Florida (Tampa area) and ties to San Francisco—reflecting the two major hubs of his life.

• His art studio/gallery: Balin painted portraits of musical icons and maintained exhibitions of his work. 

• Exclusive touring and performance history: While his most active years were earlier, he remained a respected presence.

• Philanthropic and legacy-oriented activities: In his later years he and his wife preserved his catalog and memory for fans.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

Estimating Marty Balin’s net worth involves parsing music earnings, art valuations and posthumous rights. Using publicly published data:

While no single audited document covers every asset, multiple sources converge on ~$20 million as his lifetime net worth. 

Key growth drivers:

• His landmark role in 1960s rock gave him songwriting credits and legacy streaming/royalty value.

• His solo work and transition into the 1980s widened his audience and earnings base.

• The art business and licensing of his music catalog later in life created additional evergreen revenue.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Marty Balin is remembered as a visionary artist and entrepreneur—a musician who not only fronted major rock bands but helped build the infrastructure (The Matrix club) for a cultural movement. His voice (both literal and cultural) wove folk-rock, psychedelic, pop and rock into a distinctive sound. He is featured in discussions of the “Summer of Love” era and the San Francisco scene. 

His legacy persists in:

• The ongoing influence of songs like “Today,” “Volunteers,” “Miracles,” and “With Your Love.”

• The recognition of his contributions: Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Jefferson Airplane.

• The sustained interest in his catalogue and the story-rich arc of his career—from club owner to rock icon to painter.

Conclusion

From his birth on January 30, 1942, Marty Balin rose from the San Francisco club scene to global recognition—co-founding Jefferson Airplane, scripting chart-toppers with Jefferson Starship, and later branching into solo music and art. With a net worth estimated at $20 million, he wove together creative, business and personal threads into a life that transcended simple musician status. His relationships—especially with his wife Susan Joy—and his family life underscored the human story behind the rock legend. On his birthday each January 30, fans still honour the memory of his voice and vision. His legacy reminds us: artistry coupled with business acumen and personal integrity can become timeless.