Hot Tuna

The Profile

Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by Jefferson Airplane members Jorma Kaukonen (guitar, vocals) and Jack Casady (bass) in 1969. Renowned for acoustic country-blues as well as a mid-70s electric hard-rock phase, the group has recorded seminal live and studio albums and continues to perform.

Debut album Hot Tuna was recorded live at New Orleans House, Berkeley (Sept 16–23, 1969) with Will Scarlett on harmonica; the 1996 RCA CD adds five bonus tracks. Their repertoire includes blues standards by Reverend Gary Davis and Jelly Roll Morton; noted performances include “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” “Walkin’ Blues,” “Hit Single#1,” “Funky #7,” and “Genesis.” America’s Choice features a detergent-box cover advising full-volume playback and lists the trio as “ingredients.” By the late 1970s the band operated as a hard-rock power trio, captured expansively on Double Dose. Papa John Creach appeared with the group around 1971–72.

Hot Tuna, born from Jefferson Airplane’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, swing from unplugged country-blues finesse to roaring 70s hard-rock jams. Reviews highlight the intimate live debut at New Orleans House, the crafted studio turn of Burgers, the muscle of America’s Choice, and the all-encompassing live punch of Double Dose.