Paul Kantner, guitarist and founding member of the band Jefferson Airplane, is dead.

"SF Gate" reports the 74-year-old Kantner died today after suffering multiple heart attacks earlier this week.

Kantner formed the influential San Francisco-based band with Marty Balin in 1965. They hit it big with the addition of singer Grace Slick with hits like "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love."

After the band broke up, Kantner went to play in the reformed "Jefferson Starship" version of the group, which had a number of hits in the 70s.  (Metro Networks Inc.)

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420