Jerry Garcia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Garcia
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Garcia performing in 1977, Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia
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| Born |
Jerome John Garcia
August 1, 1942 San Francisco, California, U.S.
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| Died | August 9, 1995 (aged 53) Forest Knolls, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1960–1995 |
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Sara Ruppenthal
(m. 1963, divorced)Carolyn Adams
(m. 1981; div. 1994)Manasha Matheson
(m. 1990)Deborah Koons
(m. 1994; |
| Children | 4 |
| Musical career | |
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| Instruments |
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Jerome John Garcia (born August 1, 1942 – died August 9, 1995) was an American musician. He is best known as the main songwriter, lead guitarist, and singer for the rock band Grateful Dead. He helped start the band, which became very famous during the 1960s. Many people saw Garcia as the band's leader, even though he didn't like that title. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the Grateful Dead.
Garcia played with the Grateful Dead for their entire 30-year career, from 1965 to 1995. He also started and joined many other music groups. These included the Saunders–Garcia Band, the Jerry Garcia Band, and Old & In the Way. He also released his own albums and played on many other artists' songs. Garcia was famous for his unique guitar playing. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him among the greatest guitarists of all time.
Garcia was known for his musical talent and skill. He could play many different instruments. He was also great at long, unplanned musical parts called improvisations. Garcia felt that improvising helped him relax while playing. It also let him make quick musical choices. He once said he preferred "making it up as I go along." These improvisations were like exploring new music, not just playing a song as it was written.
Later in his life, Garcia faced health challenges. In 1986, he had a serious health issue that almost took his life. His health got a bit better after that. However, he continued to struggle with his weight. He passed away from a heart attack on August 9, 1995, at age 53.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Garcia's family came from Spain, Ireland, and Sweden. He was born in San Francisco, California, on August 1, 1942. His parents named him after the famous composer Jerome Kern. Jerry was the second child; his older brother, Clifford, was born in 1937. His father was a retired musician, and his mother loved playing the piano. Music was a big part of his family life from a young age. He also took piano lessons for many years.
In 1946, when Jerry was four, he had an accident. His brother accidentally cut off part of his right middle finger while splitting wood. Less than a year later, his father died in a fishing accident. He slipped and drowned in the Trinity River.
Growing Up in San Francisco
After his father's death, Jerry's mother took over the family bar. She sent Jerry and his brother to live with their grandparents. Jerry lived with his grandparents for five years. During this time, he had a lot of freedom. He went to Monroe Elementary School. His third-grade teacher encouraged his artistic skills. She helped him see that "being a creative person was a viable possibility."
Jerry said his grandmother introduced him to country and bluegrass music. He remembered her listening to the Grand Ole Opry. His older brother, Clifford, disagreed, saying she didn't listen to it on the radio. Around this time, Jerry started playing the banjo. It was his first stringed instrument.
Moving to Menlo Park
In 1953, Jerry's mother remarried. Jerry and his brother moved back home with their mother and new stepfather. They then moved to Menlo Park for a safer neighborhood. In Menlo Park, Jerry learned about rock and roll and rhythm and blues from his brother. He enjoyed listening to artists like Ray Charles and Chuck Berry. His brother often made Jerry learn the harmony parts for songs. Jerry later said this helped his early ear training.
In the late 1950s, Jerry also studied at the San Francisco Art Institute. His teacher, Wally Hedrick, encouraged his drawing and painting. Hedrick also introduced Jerry to the books of Jack Kerouac. Jerry later said Kerouac was a big influence on him.
A New Guitar and a New Path
After graduating from Menlo Oaks school, Jerry moved back to San Francisco with his family. They lived above their newly built family bar. For his fifteenth birthday, his mother bought him an accordion. Jerry was disappointed because he wanted an electric guitar. He loved rhythm and blues artists like Chuck Berry. After asking, his mother traded the accordion for a Danelectro electric guitar and a small amplifier. His stepfather helped him tune the guitar in a special way.
Jerry had some trouble in high school. In 1959, his mother moved the family to Cazadero, a small town north of San Francisco. Jerry had to travel by bus to Analy High School. He joined a band called the Chords. They won a contest and got to record a song called "Raunchy."
Forming the Grateful Dead
In 1960, Jerry got into trouble and chose to join the U.S. Army instead of going to prison. He didn't enjoy army life and often missed duties. He was honorably discharged in December 1960.
In January 1961, Jerry's car broke down in East Palo Alto. He spent weeks sleeping at friends' houses or in his car. He met Dave McQueen, who introduced him to local musicians. On February 20, 1961, Jerry was in a serious car accident. He was thrown from the car and broke his collarbone. Another person in the car was sadly killed. This accident was a turning point for Jerry. He later said, "That's where my life began." He decided to focus seriously on playing the guitar. This meant giving up his love for drawing and painting.
In April 1961, Jerry met Robert Hunter. Hunter became a close friend and wrote many lyrics for the Grateful Dead. They played their first concert together, earning five dollars each. Jerry and Hunter also played in bands with David Nelson.
In 1962, Jerry met Phil Lesh, who would become the bassist for the Grateful Dead. Lesh thought Jerry looked like the composer Claude Debussy. They recorded some songs together for a radio show. Jerry also started teaching acoustic guitar and banjo. One of his students was Bob Matthews, who later worked on many Grateful Dead albums. Matthews introduced Jerry to Bob Weir on New Year's Eve 1963.
Between 1962 and 1964, Jerry mostly played bluegrass and folk music. He played in a bluegrass band called the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers. Soon after, Jerry, Weir, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, and friends formed a jug band called Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions.
In 1965, Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions changed into a rock band called the Warlocks. Phil Lesh joined on bass and Bill Kreutzmann on drums. They found out another band had the same name. Jerry looked in a dictionary and found "Grateful Dead." The definition was about a dead person showing thanks to someone who helped bury them. The band members didn't like the name at first. But it quickly became their official name.
Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead
Jerry Garcia was the lead guitarist, a main singer, and a songwriter for the Grateful Dead. He wrote famous songs like "Dark Star" and "Franklin's Tower." Robert Hunter wrote the lyrics for most of Jerry's songs.
Jerry was known for his "soulful extended guitar improvisations." This meant he played long, emotional guitar solos that were made up on the spot. He often played back and forth with other band members. The band became famous because they almost never played a song the same way twice. Jerry often got ideas for his solos from rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. He said Weir was amazing at connecting all the different rhythms.
When asked about his solos, Jerry said he usually stayed close to the song's melody. He would break it into phrases, but his solos might be more complex.
Jerry and the band toured almost constantly from 1965 until his death in 1995. They sometimes took breaks due to tiredness or health issues. Over three decades, the Grateful Dead played 2,314 concerts.
Jerry's guitar playing style was very diverse. He mixed sounds from bluegrass, early rock and roll, blues, country, and jazz. He was influenced by many different musicians. For example, he loved the improvisational style of jazz artist John Coltrane.
Jerry described his playing as coming from "barroom rock and roll, country guitar." He said it was like the blues instrumental music from the late 1950s and early 1960s. His playing had special "signatures," like lead lines based on rhythmic triplets. You can hear this in songs like "Good Morning Little School Girl" and "Truckin'"
Other Music Projects
Besides the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia was part of many other music projects. He had his own band, the Jerry Garcia Band. He also played in acoustic groups like Old & In the Way and other bluegrass bands. He often worked with mandolin player David Grisman. A film called Grateful Dawg tells the story of their close friendship.
Jerry also played with groups like the Black Mountain Boys and Legion of Mary. He was a big fan of jazz music and improvisation. He played with jazz keyboardists Merl Saunders and Howard Wales for many years. He even appeared on saxophonist Ornette Coleman's album Virgin Beauty.
Jerry spent a lot of time in the recording studio. He helped many musician friends by playing guitar, singing, or even producing their albums. He played on over 50 studio albums. These albums included many styles like bluegrass, rock, folk, blues, country, and jazz. Some artists he helped included Jefferson Airplane and Bob Dylan. In 1995, he played on three songs for guitarist Sanjay Mishra's album Blue Incantation. This was his last studio collaboration.
In the early 1970s, Jerry and other Grateful Dead members worked with composer Ned Lagin. They created early ambient music projects, like the album Seastones. In 1970, Jerry also worked on the music for the film Zabriskie Point.
Jerry also played pedal steel guitar for New Riders of the Purple Sage. He played with them from 1969 to 1971. He is on their first album, New Riders of the Purple Sage. He also played pedal steel on the hit song "Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. Even though he thought he was new to the pedal steel, he was often ranked highly in player polls.
In 1988, Jerry played at several benefit concerts. These included the "Soviet American Peace Walk" concert in San Francisco. He also played at a benefit for Vietnam Veteran and peace activist Brian Willson.
Jerry Garcia as an Artist
Jerry had studied art as a teenager. In the late 1980s, he started a second career in visual arts. He created many drawings, etchings, and water colors. His art was shown at the Weir Gallery in Berkeley, California. Roberta Weir helped him with new art techniques and organized his first art show in 1990. She also prepared etching plates for him. His art shows became very popular.
Jerry was also one of the first artists to use digital art. His art style was as varied as his music. He always carried small notebooks for sketching. You can see Jerry Garcia's art on many men's neckties. These designs came from his etchings, drawings, paintings, and digital art. His artwork has also been used on hotel rooms, clothes, and rugs.
Personal Life and Health
Jerry Garcia met his first wife, Sara Ruppenthal, in 1963. They married on April 23, 1963. Their daughter, Heather, was born on December 8, 1963.
His next relationship was with Carolyn Adams, whom he met in late 1966. They had two daughters, Annabelle (born 1970) and Theresa "Trixie" (born 1974). Adams and Garcia married in 1981, but their relationship was already ending. They divorced in 1994.
In August 1970, Jerry's mother, Ruth, was in a car crash. Jerry often visited her while recording the album American Beauty. She died on September 28, 1970.
In 1973, Jerry met Deborah Koons, a filmmaker. She would later become his wife. Jerry lived with various housemates over the years.
In 1978, Jerry became friends with Manasha Matheson, an artist. They started a romantic relationship in 1987. Their daughter, Keelin Noel Garcia, was born on December 20, 1987. Jerry and Manasha married in 1990. Jerry said he was happy to finally "actually be a father" to Keelin.
After his relationship with Manasha ended, Jerry reconnected with Deborah Koons in 1993. They married on February 14, 1994. They were married when he passed away.
Health Challenges
By 1983, Jerry's stage presence seemed to change. He still played guitar with passion, but sometimes looked tired. His weight increased a lot. By 1984, he often rested his chin on the microphone during shows. The constant touring had taken a toll on him.
In July 1986, Jerry had a serious health issue related to his weight and eating habits. He was in a coma for five days. This event deeply affected him. He had to relearn how to play the guitar and other basic skills. Within a few months, he recovered and started playing with his bands again.
After Jerry's recovery, the Grateful Dead released their best-selling studio album, In the Dark, in 1987. The band's energy improved in the late 1980s.
Sadly, keyboardist Brent Mydland died in July 1990. His death greatly affected Jerry, who felt the band's chemistry would never be the same. The band continued touring, but Jerry became exhausted. He thought they needed a break to create new music, but touring continued due to management pressures.
After a 1992 summer tour, Jerry became sick again. He recovered over several days, and the band canceled their fall tour. Jerry tried to improve his health. He smoked fewer cigarettes and started losing weight. He also became a vegetarian.
Despite these efforts, Jerry's physical and mental health continued to decline in 1993 and 1994. In July 1995, he checked into a health treatment center. His stay was short, lasting only two weeks. He then went to another treatment center in California, where he passed away.
Jerry Garcia's Passing
Jerry Garcia passed away on August 9, 1995. The cause of death was a heart attack. He had long struggled with weight problems, sleep issues, and other health challenges. These all contributed to his declining health. Phil Lesh, the Grateful Dead bassist, said he was "struck numb" by the news.
Jerry's funeral was held on August 12. His family, the remaining Grateful Dead members, and close friends attended. On August 13, about 25,000 people gathered for a public memorial in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. People brought flowers and gifts. A bagpipe played "Amazing Grace" in his memory.
On April 4, 1996, half of Jerry's ashes were spread into the Ganges River in India. This is a holy place for Hindus. The remaining ashes were poured into the San Francisco Bay.
Musical Instruments
Jerry Garcia played many guitars during his career. These ranged from student models to custom-made instruments. Over 35 years, he used about 25 different guitars.
In 1965, with the Warlocks, he used a Guild Starfire. He also used it on the first Grateful Dead album. Later, he played Gibson Les Paul guitars. In 1969, he used a Gibson SG for a while.
From 1969 to 1972, Jerry also played pedal steel guitar. He used a Fender instrument and later a ZB Custom D-10. He played pedal steel on songs like "The Farm" by Jefferson Airplane and "Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
In 1971, Jerry started playing a sunburst Les Paul. He also used a guitar called "Peanut." In May, he began using a 1955 Stratocaster given to him by Graham Nash. He put an alligator sticker on it, and it became known as "Alligator." This was his main electric guitar until 1973.
In late 1972, Jerry bought his first guitar made by luthier Doug Irwin. It was called "Eagle." He loved Irwin's work and asked him to build a custom guitar. This guitar was nicknamed "Wolf" because of a sticker Jerry added. It was delivered in May 1973 and became his main guitar. Wolf was very expensive for the time.
Wolf was made with special wood and beautiful inlays. Jerry later had Irwin update the guitar's electronics. He also asked Irwin to build another custom guitar, telling him, "Don't hold back."
During a 1974 European tour, Wolf was damaged. Jerry sent it back to Irwin for repairs. During this time, Jerry played other guitars, including Travis Bean guitars. In 1977, Irwin returned the repaired Wolf to Jerry.
Seven years after he ordered it, Jerry received his second custom guitar from Irwin in 1979. It was called "Tiger" because of an inlay on its cover. Tiger was made with beautiful wood layers and special pickups. It weighed about 13.5 pounds. This was Jerry's main guitar for the next eleven years.
In the late 1980s, Jerry also supported Alvarez Yairi acoustic guitars. He often played a DY99 Virtuoso Custom.
In 1990, Irwin finished "Rosebud," Jerry's fourth custom guitar. It was similar to Tiger but had different features and weighed less. Rosebud had three pickups and a special system for MIDI effects. It cost $11,000.
In 1993, luthier Stephen Cripe made a guitar for Jerry called "Lightning Bolt." It was named for its inlay. Jerry loved this guitar and used it all the time. He asked Cripe to build a backup, which was called "Top Hat."
After Jerry's death, there was a disagreement about who owned Wolf and Tiger. Jerry's will said they should go to Doug Irwin. But the Grateful Dead members thought the guitars belonged to the band. Irwin won the lawsuit in 2001. However, he decided to sell the guitars at auction to help start a new guitar workshop.
In 2002, Wolf and Tiger were sold at auction. Tiger sold for $957,500, and Wolf for $789,500. Together, they set a new world record for guitars sold at auction. Wolf was bought by Daniel Pritzker, and Tiger by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. In 2017, Wolf was auctioned again for charity and sold for $1.9 million.
In 2019, Wolf and Tiger were shown in the Play it Loud exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. John Mayer even played Wolf at a Dead & Co. concert.
Jerry Garcia's Legacy
Jerry Garcia was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead in 1994. He didn't attend the ceremony. The band jokingly brought a cardboard cutout of him on stage instead.
In 1987, the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's created their Cherry Garcia flavor. It was the first ice cream flavor named after a musician.
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Jerry Garcia 13th on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
According to fellow guitarist Henry Kaiser, Jerry Garcia is "the most recorded guitarist in history." With over 2,200 Grateful Dead concerts and 1,000 Jerry Garcia Band concerts recorded, there are about 15,000 hours of his guitar playing preserved.
Since 2004, there has been an annual music and camping festival called "The Grateful Garcia Gathering." It celebrates Jerry's music.
On July 21, 2005, an amphitheater in McLaren Park in San Francisco was named "The Jerry Garcia Amphitheater." This park is in the neighborhood where Jerry grew up. The first show there was Jerry Day 2005. Jerry Day is an annual celebration of Garcia in his childhood neighborhood.
In 2005, a tribute concert called Comes a Time: A Celebration of the Music & Spirit of Jerry Garcia was held in Berkeley, California. Many famous musicians performed.
In 2010, the Santa Barbara Bowl in California opened Jerry Garcia Glen. It has a statue of Jerry's right hand.
The band Soundgarden wrote an instrumental song called "Jerry Garcia's Finger" in his honor. Many music festivals around the world hold events in memory of Jerry Garcia.
In 2015, a tribute concert called "Dear Jerry" was held in Columbia, Maryland. Also in 2015, Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Jerry's daughter, Trixie Garcia, accepted the award for her father.
In 2015, Jerry Garcia's wife, Manasha Garcia, and their daughter, Keelin Garcia, started The Jerry Garcia Foundation. This charity supports art, environmental, and humanitarian causes. Keelin Garcia said it was an honor to do nonprofit work that matched her father's values.
In 2017, Jerry's music was featured in Red Roses, Green Gold, a musical show. In 2018, Jerry Garcia's family launched the Jerry Garcia Music Arts music label.
In 2021, it was announced that actor Jonah Hill would play Jerry Garcia in a movie about the Grateful Dead. The film will be directed by Martin Scorsese.
Discography
- New Riders of the Purple Sage – New Riders of the Purple Sage – 1971
- Hooteroll? – Howard Wales and Jerry Garcia – 1971
- Garcia – Jerry Garcia – 1972
- Live at Keystone – Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt – 1973
- Compliments – Jerry Garcia – 1974
- Old & In the Way – Old & In the Way – 1975
- Reflections – Jerry Garcia – 1976
- Cats Under the Stars – Jerry Garcia Band – 1978
- Run for the Roses – Jerry Garcia – 1982
- Vintage NRPS – New Riders of the Purple Sage – 1986
- Keystone Encores – Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt – 1988
- Almost Acoustic – Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band – 1988
- Jerry Garcia / David Grisman – Jerry Garcia and David Grisman – 1991
- Jerry Garcia Band – Jerry Garcia Band – 1991
- Not for Kids Only – Jerry Garcia and David Grisman – 1993
Images for kids
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Garcia performing in 1977, Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia
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The corner of Haight and Ashbury, a famous San Francisco neighborhood. The Grateful Dead lived nearby from 1966 to 1968.
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Jerry Garcia in 1969.
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Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart performing in 1987.
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Jerry Garcia playing guitar in 1978.
See also
In Spanish: Jerry Garcia para niños
