Hot Tuna is an American band, formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as an acoustic (and occasionally electric blues) spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. Their early repertoire was derived mainly from the American country blues artists such as Rev. Gary Davis and Arthur Blake (Blind Blake). Casady and Kaukonen added Will Scarlett on harmonica and recorded 1969's Hot Tuna, which was followed by a long-series of well-received albums that played mostly to a small and devoted cult following. The band added a violin player named Papa John Creech and released albums, First Pull Up, Then Pull Down (1971) and Burgers (1972). With some later albums such as America's Choice (1975), Yellow Fever (1975), and Hoppkorv (1976), the band became a power trio with drummer Bob Steeler and turned to heavy rock. They are often considered a forerunner of modern jam bands like Phish.

After going their separate ways in the late 1970's, Casady and Kaukonen re-formed Hot Tuna in the mid-1980's with guitarist and producer Michael Falzarano. Falzarano stayed with the band till 2002 when he left to release and promote his solo album The King James Sessions which features Pete Sears, another long time member of Hot Tuna. Other musicians have come and gone over the group's various incarnations; the name Hot Tuna has essentially been shorthand for "Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen". Most recently (2004-2005) they have toured with multi-instrumentalist Barry Mitterhoff and drummer Erik Diaz.

Kaukonen and Cassady are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Discography

• Hot Tuna (1970)
• First Pull Up-Then Pull Down (1971)
• Burgers (1972)
• The Phosphorescent Rat (1973)
• Quah (1974) (By Jorma Kaukonen with Tom Hobson, produced by Jack Casady.)
• America's Choice (1975)
• Yellow Fever (1975)
• Hoppkorv (1976)
• Double Dose (1977)
• Final Vinyl (1979) (Compilation album.)

See also

• Hot Tuna discography from Music City
• Interview with Jorma - KyndMusic September 2005