As Jerry Garcia’s birthday was August 1st, and he unfortunately passed away on August 9th, the days between are affectionately referred to as “Jerry Week”. Paying tribute to the life and times of the legendary Grateful Dead guitarist, we’ll be running featured articles about Garcia all week long.
With the 20th anniversary of Jerry Garcia’s death approaching, we’ve spent some time this week reflecting on the many musical wonders that Garcia left with us. Gone but never forgotten, Garcia’s legacy looms large in the hearts of many. We looked at his fondness for bluegrass/acoustic music, his eponymous solo album, and now, we’re tackling one of Garcia’s most coveted musical partners: Merl Saunders.
Saunders and Garcia first started playing together at a small San Francisco club called The Matrix in 1971. Saunders, known for his captivating work on the organs, sat in with the Grateful Dead on one occasion, but mostly worked with Garcia outside of that setting. Together they formed the Saunders/Garcia Band, which ultimately evolved into Legion of Mary with Martin Fierro on saxophone. There are tons of full-length Mary concerts on YouTube, but this one cut, “Mystery Train”, is simply resonating music:
The Legion of Mary days were short-lived, as the Grateful Dead resumed touring in 1975, but Saunders and Garcia remained frequent collaborators over the next 20 years. They formed Reconstruction together in 1979, and here’s a smoking version of “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” from that band:
When Jerry Garcia fell into a diabetic coma in 1986, it was Saunders who set about re-teaching him how to play guitar. Their friendship remained a cornerstone of Garcia’s musical accomplishments, wholehearted companions journeying through the sonic realms.
Unfortunately, Saunders suffered a stroke in 2002, forcing him to put his musical career in the backburner. He passed away in 2008, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy behind those keys and organs. Let’s listen to some of the best Garcia and Saunders collaborations below:
“I Second That Emotion”
“The Harder They Come”
“Positively 4th Street”
“Tupelo Honey”
Legion of Mary Full Show – 7/4/75
Happy Jerry Week!
8/1- Celebrate Jerry Garcia’s Birthday With Three Grateful Dead Shows Played On This Date
8/3- Jerry Week: 15 Interviews That Capture The Life Of Jerry Garcia
8/4- Jerry Week: Pickin’ On Garcia’s Love For String Music
8/5- Jerry Week: Listen To 26 Great Artists Cover Jerry Garcia
8/6- Jerry Week: The Ins And Outs Of Jerry’s Debut Solo Album, ‘Garcia’