Jorma Kaukonen to Perform at Sanctuary Concert

Folk music fans can catch music history when guitarist Jorma Kaukonen will perform at the Sanctuary Concert Series, at the Saturday 8 p.m.

Kaukonen made a name for himself as a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and a collaborator with Janis Joplin. These days he performs as a solo artist and also with his band Hot Tuna. When not performing, Kaukonen teaches guitar at the Fur Peace Ranch in southeast Ohio.

He said he started playing music while growing up in Washington, DC. “I want to quote musician Chris Smith on this,” said Kaukonen. “When I was I a kid, I fell [into music] and I never fell out.”

As a kid, Kaukonen began playing piano and by the age of 15 he was playing guitar. “I became very passionate and I have not put it down,” he said.

The older he got, the more he strived to create his own sound. “When I began performing, I had performers I admire tell me I need to sound like someone,” he said. “But I didn’t want to be a clone of someone, I wanted to make my own music.” 

Growing older in the music industry can be difficult, Kaukonen said. Pop music has its flavor of the month and then the fickle tastes of the pop culture could change. However, Kaukonen said that musicians of his generation and his performance style have found a home with Red House Records. “I was thinking of publishing the album on my own, but I like having a record company support me,” he said. “They let me perform music my way and let me take the creative control.”

He also said this is a business and Red House would like to make the money back from the performers they support so as to support other performers such as Kaukonen, but Red House allows for the artists to explore and make music their way.  “I love working with them,” he said.

Kaukonen said he was pleased that Red House Records released Hot Tuna’s latest album, “Steady As She Goes.” This is their first album in 20 years. “It just worked out that way,” Kaukonen says. “Hot Tuna never quit playing. The moment just wasn’t right before; now it is, and we have a great project to show for it.”

Saturday will be Kaukonen's first time playing a Sanctuary Concert. “I’m excited to play there. I’ve been in this game for a long time and I love performing for people who are unfamiliar with music,” said Kaukonen. “I think it’s going to be a great time.”