Joey Covington, best known as a drummer for both Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, died Tuesday in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 67.

According to a local CBS news station, Covington's sedan slammed into a wall on the side of the road. Police reported that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time and was pronounced dead at the scene following attempts to revive him. He was the only passenger.

Covington rose to prominence in 1969 when he helped found the American blues-rock band Hot Tuna with Jefferson Airplane members Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen and Paul Kantner. That same year, he provided percussion for Jefferson Airplane's “Volunteers” album before taking over full-time drumming duties in 1970 when Spencer Dryden quit the group.

Covington left Jefferson Airplane in mid-1972 to pursue what would turn out to be a mediocre solo career. In 1976, he co-wrote Jefferson Starship's "With Your Love," a single that peaked at No. 12 on the charts. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he toured with various configurations as the San Francisco Allstars. Covington's last performance was for a Marilyn Monroe celebration in Palm Springs on June 1.

Jefferson Airplane - Somebody To Love (live 1970)

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