Jorma Kaukonen is a name synonymous with guitar prowess. After a half-century of creating and playing music, the well known Jefferson Airplane guitarist and Hot Tuna frontman will take to the historic stage of the Mauch Chunk Opera House at 8 p.m. Friday night.

Kaukonen is famous for lending electric riffs as the accompaniment to melodic singer Grace Slick's voice on cult favorites such as "White Rabbit."Even with the reputation of psychedelic rocker, his first love has always been the blues."I started out in the acoustic world, coming out for the folk scene in San Fransisco. I was kind of co-opted into the rock."Falling in love with the blues was easy for Kaukonen."Obviously the sounds: harmonica, the grooves, guitar. But the content of the lyrics deals so much more with reality on so many different levels."The influence of folk is heavily traced through his riffs and lyrics from the coffee shops accompanying Janis Joplin, to being mentored by Ian Buchanan.The siren song of the folk Americana style drew Kaukonen to form Hot Tuna with Jack Cassady as bassist for a more electric folk vibe in the early '70s. The duo's "I See the Light" retains leftover traces of psychedelia with modernized folk undertones.Over the years Kaukonen would break away from time to time to work on solo projects. When the group re-formed in the 2010s they retained the same rock flavor but with sharper technical skills, both in vocals and string strumming.Kaukonen is a mesmerizing folk-style finger picker. Martin Guitar created a custom guitar, the M-30, from the two favored styles Kaukonen played.During the 90-minute set Friday, he promises a musical journey that spans half a decade."It's a retrospect of my musical life in one set."Kaukonen recently released his newest work, "Ain't in No Hurry," a guitar-heavy folk-blues compilation."In my career there's been an evolution of the folk Americana sound. I love it so much."Even with a repertoire dating back to before compact discs, Kaukonen says he is still influenced by modern sounds."I'm always looking for new influences. Either some country in Africa or modern blues sounds."The challenge according to him is the mechanics of arrange notes and cords."There's a lot of ways to move the building blocks of chords around. Finding nuances to make them sound different is the challenge."After all the years of performing, Kaukonen says he never tires of playing favorites for a crowd."I cover 'Hesitation Blues.' I've been playing it for years," he said. "A good song is a good song."Kaukonen's voice has remained the same over the years."I still sound like me despite myself."He attributes his vocal strength to good luck and awareness."When you're young you have to practice relentlessly. As you hit the middle you can coast but as you get older, you have to take care of yourself more." Kaukonen's playing style has adapted to the more classical formation as he gets older."I find it funny when I was younger, my playing was sloppy by classical standers. Now that style is easier on my hands."Coming from the age of vinyl, Kaukonen has grown to appreciate the modern influence of technology in the industry."In the beginning when stuff was released online some of us were upset," he said. "But I download music just like everyone else."Even though iTunes and YouTube has allowed people more accessibility to songs they never would have in the past, the old mediums still have their merits."I have a 9-year-old, and every now and then I'll grab the kid and sit her in front of the stereo and play her vinyl records like Rosanne Cash. The experience can't be replicated."Kaukonen says he is looking forward to Friday's show."I've been there about five or seven years ago. I come from a small town myself, so I just love that small-town charm."His set will include new material of course, but well-known hits will also be on the list."I'll do some new stuff, but will also play what people want to hear."