The Jerry Garcia Band was a San Francisco Bay Area rock band led by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Garcia founded the band in 1975; it remained the most important of his various side-projects until his death in 1995. The band toured and recorded sporadically throughout its twenty-year existence, generally during lulls in the Grateful Dead's schedule.[1][2]Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 Pure Jerry releases by the Jerry Garcia Band 3 Personnel 4 References 5 External links
[edit] History
Over the years, the lineup of the Jerry Garcia Band changed a number of times. The one constant member besides Garcia himself was bassist John Kahn. Melvin Seals had the next longest tenure, serving as keyboardist from 1980 onward. Seals became band leader following Garcia's death and changed the band's name to JGB.
Jerry Garcia's musical interests were famously varied, and this was reflected in the diverse music played by his band. Like the Grateful Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band played rock music that was influenced by blues, folk, country, and jazz. The band also played rhythm and blues and reggae songs, and rock versions of American roots music. Jerry Garcia notably covered many songs by Bob Dylan with the Jerry Garcia Band. Like the Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band emphasized musical improvisation, and helped create what is now known as jam band music.
During Garcia's lifetime, the Jerry Garcia Band released one studio album, Cats Under the Stars, and one live album, Jerry Garcia Band. Several more live albums were released posthumously. [edit] Discography [edit] Albums Cats Under the Stars – 1978 Jerry Garcia Band – 1991 How Sweet It Is – 1997 Don't Let Go – 2001 Shining Star – 2001 After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80 – 2004 Let It Rock: The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 2 – 2009 [edit] Pure Jerry releases by the Jerry Garcia Band Theatre 1839, July 29 & 30, 1977 – 2004 Lunt-Fontanne, New York City, October 31, 1987 – 2004 Lunt-Fontanne, New York City, The Best of the Rest, October 15–30, 1987 – 2004 Merriweather Post Pavilion, September 1 & 2, 1989 – 2005 Warner Theatre, March 18, 1978 – 2005 Coliseum, Hampton, VA, November 9, 1991 (with Bruce Hornsby) – 2006 Bay Area, 1978 – 2009 [edit] Personnel
Following are the lineups for the Jerry Garcia Band's live performances.[3][4]August 5, 1975 – December 31, 1975 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Nicky Hopkins – piano, vocals Ron Tutt – drums January 9, 1976 – January 10, 1976 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass James Booker – piano, vocals Ron Tutt – drums January 26, 1976 – August 12, 1977 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Keith Godchaux – piano Donna Godchaux – vocals Ron Tutt – drums November 15, 1977 – November 3, 1978 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Keith Godchaux – piano Donna Godchaux – vocals Maria Muldaur – vocals Buzz Buchanan – drums October 7, 1979 – March 27, 1980 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Ozzie Allers – keyboards, vocals Johnny de Foncesca – drums July 18, 1980 – November 16, 1980 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Ozzie Ahlers – keyboards, vocals Greg Errico – drums December 20, 1980 – June 1, 1981 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ Jimmy Warren – electric piano, clavinet Daoud Shaw – drums June 25, 1981 – November 19, 1981 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ Jimmy Warren – electric piano, clavinet Daoud Shaw – drums Essra Mohawk – vocals Liz Stires – vocals December 17, 1981 – September 7, 1982 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ Jimmy Warren – electric piano, clavinet Bill Kreutzmann – drums Essra Mohawk – vocals Liz Stires – vocals October 13, 1982 – October 24, 1982 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ Greg Errico – drums October 28, 1982 – June 5, 1983 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ Greg Errico – drums Jaclyn LaBranch – vocals DeeDee Dickerson – vocals July 20, 1983 – August 28, 1984 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ David Kemper – drums Jaclyn LaBranch – vocals DeeDee Dickerson – vocals September 15, 1984 – September 28, 1985 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ David Kemper – drums Jaclyn LaBranch – vocals Gloria Jones – vocals October 7, 1985 – February 2, 1986 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ Gaylord Birch – drums Jaclyn LaBranch – vocals Gloria Jones – vocals February 21, 1986 – November 19, 1993 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ David Kemper – drums Jaclyn LaBranch – vocals Gloria Jones – vocals April 4, 1994 – April 23, 1995 Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals John Kahn – bass Melvin Seals – organ Donny Baldwin – drums Jaclyn LaBranch – vocals Gloria Jones – vocals
