An American band, formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as an acoustic (and occasionally electric) blues spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It eventually became the full-time focus of its founding members, emerging as a popular touring act of the 1970s.

At first Hot Tuna used to open Airplane concerts and afforded Kaukonen and Casady the opportunity to further explore and develop their love of traditional blues music. As Jefferson Airplane slowly wound down in the early 1970s, the splinter group, to whom live performance was always of prime importance, became a new musical entity in its own right.

As a trio rounded out by harmonica player Will Scarlett (and occasionally including Airplane members Marty Balin and Spencer Dryden), in 1970 Hot Tuna released a low-key self-titled album of traditional blues and ragtime recorded live at the New Orleans House in Berkeley.

The band then went electric, adding fellow Airplane bandmates Balin and Joey Covington on lead vocals and drums, respectively. After a string of disastrous concerts in Jamaica and growing tension between Balin and Kaukonen, Casady and Kaukonen briefly returned to acoustic performance.

In the autumn of 1970, they returned to the band format, adding violinist Papa John Creach and Texan drummer Sammy Piazza. This line-up was documented on the album First Pull Up, Then Pull Down (1971), recorded live in Santa Cruz.

The studio albums Burgers (1972) and The Phosphorescent Rat (1973) followed, featuring compositions mainly of Kaukonen original material and including some of the guitarist's most delicate and poetic works. David Crosby sang supporting vocals on the Burgers track Highway Song and keyboard player Nick Buck made his first appearance on what would become a semi-permanent tenure during the 1970s.

In 1974, Hot Tuna changed into a heavy rock band. The albums America's Choice (1975), Yellow Fever (1975) and Hoppkorv (1976) showcased a power trio with the addition of new drummer Bob Steeler. Live performances during this period were typified by free-flow improvisational jams and very long sets (up to 6 hours uninterrupted) with extended versions of their studio material. Because of this, they are often considered a forerunner of modern jam bands such as Phish.

After the release of the double live album Double Dose in 1977 and the compilation Final Vinyl in 1978, Casady and Kaukonen went their separate ways in 1979 and pursued short-lived solo projects in the new wave bands SVT and Vital Parts, respectively. However, they later started to play a few club dates as Hot Tuna and reformed on a more concrete basis in 1986 with guitarist and producer Michael Falzarano.

Their first album of all new material in almost 14 years was 1990's Pair of Dice Found with Harvey Sorgen on drums. Kaukonen and Falzarano both contributed original songs.

Throughout the 1990s, Tuna again alternated between acoustic and electric styles. The two Sweetwater albums were predominantly acoustic sets with guests Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead, singer Maria Muldaur and ex-Jefferson Starship keyboard player Pete Sears (the latter joined on a permanent basis during the decade).

The 1997 release Live in Japan was in many ways reminiscent of the very first Hot Tuna album, having a minimalistic sound and being recorded live at a tiny venue.

Falzarano left the band in 2002.

Most recently, Casady and Kaukonen have toured with multi-instrumentalist Barry Mitterhoff and drummer Erik Diaz.