About Jerry Garcia

Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1, 1942 - August 9, 1995) was an American musician, songwriter, and artist perhaps best known for being the lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead. Garcia was viewed by the media as the leader or "spokesman" of the group. Performing with the Grateful Dead for its entire three decade career (which spanned from 1965 to 1995), Garcia participated in a variety of side projects, including the Jerry Garcia Band, Old and in the Way, the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, and several solo albums. He also contributed to a number of albums by other artists over the years as a session musician. He was very well known by many for his highly distinctive and original guitar playing and was ranked 13th in the Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time cover story. Later in life, Garcia was sometimes ill due to his unstable weight. After experiencing a diabetic coma that nearly cost him his life in 1986, Garcia endeavored to live on healthier terms until his sudden death in a rehabilitation facility in August of 1995. Birth name: Jerome John Garcia Born August 1, 1942 - San Francisco, California, US Died August 9, 1995 (aged 53) - Forest Knolls, California, US Genres: Folk rock, jam, bluegrass, country rock, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues Instruments: Guitar, pedal steel guitar, banjo Years active: 1960 - 1995 Labels: Rhino, Arista, Warner Bros., Acoustic Disc, Grateful Dead Associated acts: Grateful Dead, Legion of Mary, Reconstruction, Jerry Garcia Band, Old and in the Way, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage Website: JerryGarcia.com Notable instruments: Gibson SGs Guild Starfire 1957 Gibson Les Paul Gold-top Les Paul with P-90 Fender Stratocaster "Alligator" Doug Irwin-modified Alembic "Wolf" Doug Irwin Custom "Tiger" Doug Irwin Custom "Rosebud" Stephen Cripe Custom "Lightning Bolt" Discography * Jerry Garcia o Garcia - 1972 o Compliments - 1974 o Reflections - 1976 o Run for the Roses - 1982 * Jerry Garcia Band o Cats Under the Stars - 1978 o Jerry Garcia Band - 1991 o How Sweet It Is - 1997 o Don't Let Go - 2001 o Shining Star - 2001 o After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80 - 2004 * Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band o Almost Acoustic - 1988 * Legion of Mary o The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol 1: Legion of Mary - 2005 * New Riders of the Purple Sage o New Riders of the Purple Sage - 1971 o Vintage NRPS - 1986 * Old and in the Way o Old and in the Way - 1975 o That High Lonesome Sound - 1996 o Breakdown - 1997 * Jerry Garcia and David Grisman o Garcia/Grisman - 1991 o Not for Kids Only - 1993 o Shady Grove - 1996 o So What - 1998 o The Pizza Tapes (featuring Tony Rice) - 2000 o Grateful Dawg - 2001 o Been All Around This World - 2004 * Compilations o All Good Things - 2004 (Box set of studio albums Garcia, Compliments, Reflections, Cats Under The Stars, and Run For The Roses.) o Garcia Plays Dylan - 2005 o The Very Best of Jerry Garcia - 2006 * Pure Jerry -- a series of live concert CDs released through the official Jerry Garcia web site. o Theatre 1839, July 29 & 30, 1977 - Jerry Garcia Band - 2004 o Lunt-Fontanne, New York City, October 31, 1987 - Jerry Garcia Band and Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band - 2004 (This album is one of 10 "live jam releases of this century" according to the August issue of Guitar One magazine.) o Lunt-Fontanne, New York City, The Best of the Rest, October 15 - 30, 1987 - Jerry Garcia Band and Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band - 2004 o Keystone Berkeley, September 1, 1974 - Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders - 2004 o Merriweather Post Pavilion, September 1 & 2, 1989 - Jerry Garcia Band - 2005 o Warner Theatre, March 18, 1978 - Jerry Garcia Band - 2005 o Coliseum, Hampton, VA, November 9, 1991 - Jerry Garcia Band - 2006 (With Bruce Hornsby.) * With other artists o Hooteroll? - Howard Wales and Jerry Garcia - 1971 o Live at the Keystone - Merl Saunders / Jerry Garcia / John Kahn / Bill Vitt - 1973 o Keystone Encores, Volume 1 - Merl Saunders / Jerry Garcia / John Kahn / Bill Vitt - 1988 o Keystone Encores, Volume 2 - Merl Saunders / Jerry Garcia / John Kahn / Bill Vitt - 1988 o Side Trips, Volume One - Howard Wales and Jerry Garcia - 1998 o Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions - Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions - 1999