Darby Slick | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Dabney Roger Slick |
Born | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | February 26, 1944
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Years active | 1965–present |
Dabney Roger "Darby" Slick (born February 26, 1944) [1] is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known as a former member of the Great Society and the writer of the Jefferson Airplane song " Somebody to Love."
Slick was born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Hawaii before his family settled in Palo Alto, California. [1] [2]
In 1965, Slick co-founded the Great Society with his brother Jerry Slick, sister-in-law Grace Slick, and Jenn Piersol ( David Miner and Bard DuPont joined shortly afterward). Darby played lead guitar and occasionally sang backup vocals. Slick wrote " Someone to Love"—originally titled "Mind Full of Bread" [3]—in the process of writing a novel, which he started in 1962. Slick's literary aspirations tapered off as he concentrated more on guitar, and he finished the song in 1965 after a breakup. He intended the song to address giving love instead of the cliché of wanting it. [4] [5]
"Someone to Love" was issued as a Great Society single by North Beach Records with "Free Advice" as its B-side. The single saw limited distribution and made little impact at the time. The Great Society dissolved when Grace Slick joined Jefferson Airplane, who recorded the song—retitled "Somebody to Love"—and scored a top 10 hit on the national charts in 1967.
Slick composed other Great Society songs such as "Darkly Smiling," and "Free Advice," which displayed his budding interest in Indian music. [6] [7]
After Slick's time in the Great Society, he took an interest in Indian music. [8] He took several trips to India to learn more about the genre. He published an autobiography in 1991 titled Don't You Want Somebody to Love: Reflections on the San Francisco Sound detailing his time with the band and lessons while on trips to India. [6]
Darby Slick | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Dabney Roger Slick |
Born | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | February 26, 1944
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Years active | 1965–present |
Dabney Roger "Darby" Slick (born February 26, 1944) [1] is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known as a former member of the Great Society and the writer of the Jefferson Airplane song " Somebody to Love."
Slick was born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Hawaii before his family settled in Palo Alto, California. [1] [2]
In 1965, Slick co-founded the Great Society with his brother Jerry Slick, sister-in-law Grace Slick, and Jenn Piersol ( David Miner and Bard DuPont joined shortly afterward). Darby played lead guitar and occasionally sang backup vocals. Slick wrote " Someone to Love"—originally titled "Mind Full of Bread" [3]—in the process of writing a novel, which he started in 1962. Slick's literary aspirations tapered off as he concentrated more on guitar, and he finished the song in 1965 after a breakup. He intended the song to address giving love instead of the cliché of wanting it. [4] [5]
"Someone to Love" was issued as a Great Society single by North Beach Records with "Free Advice" as its B-side. The single saw limited distribution and made little impact at the time. The Great Society dissolved when Grace Slick joined Jefferson Airplane, who recorded the song—retitled "Somebody to Love"—and scored a top 10 hit on the national charts in 1967.
Slick composed other Great Society songs such as "Darkly Smiling," and "Free Advice," which displayed his budding interest in Indian music. [6] [7]
After Slick's time in the Great Society, he took an interest in Indian music. [8] He took several trips to India to learn more about the genre. He published an autobiography in 1991 titled Don't You Want Somebody to Love: Reflections on the San Francisco Sound detailing his time with the band and lessons while on trips to India. [6]