On December 23rd, notable collaborators from throughout the extended Grateful Dead universe will gather in the Bay Area for a Tom “TC” Constanten benefit concert. The 81-year-old former Grateful Dead keyboardist from 1968 to 1970 is currently battling lung cancer.

Set for the Ashkenaz in Berkeley, the show will feature a house band comprised of guitarist Mark Karan (RatDog), keyboardist Scott Guberman (Phil & Friends), bassist John Paul McLean (Melvin Seals & JGB), guitarist Sam Whitman (Hambone), drummers Pairie Prince (The Tubes) and Anna Elva (Stu Allen & Mars Hotel), and TC himself on keys.

An impressive slate of special guests has also signed on to support Constanten. The concert flier promises guest appearances by Furthur vocalist Sunshine Garcia, Tea Leaf Green and Billy & The Kids bassist Reed Mathis, The Grateful Dead Hour host and singer-songwriter David Gans, longtime Grateful Dead sound technician and “Drums” and “Space” keyboard collaborator Bob Bralove, plus bassist Skip Eye, percussionist John Hanrahan, and Ryan Densmore.

There is no ticket link for the Tom Constanten benefit concert on the Ashkenaz website yet, but check back soon.

In a recent update on his health, Constanten wrote on Friday,

The beat goes on. Saw my oncologist yesterday. The good news is that the radiation therapy stunted the tumor’s growth. However, it didn’t wipe it out, and consequently I’ll be starting chemotherapy next week. That means that I’ll likely be out of commission until mid-January. The symptoms of treatment so far have been noticeable but relatively mild. I’ve been forewarned that the ones to come won’t be anywhere near as easy.

Earlier in the week, Constanten posted that his insurance company denied one of his recent medical claims for roughly $3,800, one procedure out of more than half a dozen. Prior to the benefit concert announcement, friends of the keyboardist set up a GoFundMe to help offset the costs of his cancer treatments, raising more than $55,000 of its $60,000 goal. An official fundraiser from Sweet Relief Musicians Fund followed soon after, backed by the registered 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides financial assistance to music industry professionals.

Constanten joined the Grateful Dead as a permanent member on November 23rd, 1968, one day after his honorable discharge from the Air Force. He recorded keyboards on studio albums Anthem of the Sun and Aoxomoxoa, plus 1969 live favorite Live/Dead. Just like founding keyboardist Ronald “Pigpen” McKernan, TC did not partake in psychedelics during his time with the band, and left the Grateful Dead reportedly on good terms following the group’s infamous bust down on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on January 31st, 1970.

“I’ve seen remarks presuming on the generosity of my former bandmates,” Constanten wrote on social media, referring to those online who chastise his former Grateful Dead bandmates for presumably not coming to his financial aid. “I indulge in no such presumptions. It’s the easiest thing in the world to decide how other people should spend their money. I instead celebrate their success (like, is that their fault?) and don’t expect anything from them. … My attitude remains 100% gratitude. And it’s growing.”

Donate to help Tom “TC” Constanten with his medical bills through GoFundMe or Sweet Relief.

After TC left the Dead in 1970, he returned for a one-off sit-in on April 28th, 1971, at New York’s Fillmore East, later released as Ladies and Gentlemen… the Grateful Dead. Check out a highlight below.

Grateful Dead, Tom Constanten — “Dark Star” — New York, NY — 4/28/71