Singer in Jefferson Airplane.

Read More...

Name: Signe Anderson Ettlin (Neé Signe Toly)

Born: 15 September, 1941, Seattle, WA.

Spouse: Jerry Anderson (9/65 - 74)

Michael Alois Ettlin (c1977 - present) Michael died on Feb.21, 2011 from cancer.

Children: Lillith, 27/5/66. Father:- Jerry Anderson.

Second daughter, Unknown birthdate. Father:- Jerry Anderson.

Biography:

One of the original members of Jefferson Airplane, Signe Toly was a respected solo jazz and folk singer before joining the band. Soon after joining the Airplane, she married the Matrix's lighting director (and former Prankster) Jerry Anderson. It was her departure in 1966, following the birth of her first daughter, which bought Grace Slick into the band.

Following her departure from the band, she returned to Oregon, where she sang for nine years with a ten-piece band. Then, in c1975, she was diagnosed with cancer, which she eventually beat. By 1977, she had married a local building contractor, Michael Alois Ettlin, and had decided to retire from singing.

In recent years, she has made the occasional guest appearance with both the KBC Band and Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation, but remains in official retirement from performing, and currently works in a department store. Sometime c1996 she had some further medical problems, which caused serious atrophy of her legs (i.e. they were dying). Fortunately, medical intervention corrected this problem, but caused severe financial hardship for Signe and her family.

Select Discography:

"Takes Off" - Jefferson Airplane

Trivia:

She distrusted the Airplane's original manager, Matthew Katz, and refused to sign a contract with him until he inserted a special escape clause which would free her from him if she left the band for any reason

She originally intended to leave the band in August 1966, but was persuaded to stay a little longer via some special conditions. Signe fulfilled her obligations to the band, making her final appearance on October 15, 1966. In 2010 this final show was released on CD by Sony and is entitled "Signe's Farewell".

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.