Ron "Pigpen" McKernan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron "Pigpen" McKernan
McKernan in 1968
Background information
Birth name	Ronald Charles McKernan
Also known as	Pigpen, Blue Ron
Born	(1945-09-08)September 8, 1945 San Bruno, California, U.S.
Origin	Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Died	March 8, 1973(1973-03-08) (aged 27) Corte Madera, California, U.S.
Genres	Blues rock psychedelia rhythm and blues gospel
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter
Instruments	Keyboards organ harmonica vocals guitar
Years active	1961–1972
Labels	Warner Bros. Records

Ronald Charles McKernan (born September 8, 1945 – died March 8, 1973), known as Pigpen, was an American musician. He was a founding member of the famous San Francisco band called the Grateful Dead. He played with the group from 1965 to 1972.

Ron McKernan loved African-American music, especially the blues. He listened to his father's record collection and taught himself to play harmonica and piano. He became friends with Jerry Garcia in the San Francisco Bay Area.

After playing in folk and jug bands, McKernan suggested they form an electric band. This group became the Grateful Dead. He was the band's first lead singer and played harmonica and electric organ.

As the band's music changed to psychedelic rock, McKernan found it hard to keep up. His contributions became more focused on singing, harmonica, and percussion. He was still a lead singer for some songs, like "Turn On Your Love Light" and "Good Lovin'".

By 1971, his health was not good, and doctors told him to stop touring. He rejoined the band for a short time in late 1971. But he had to stop touring for good in June 1972. McKernan passed away on March 8, 1973, at age 27. He is buried in Palo Alto, California.

About Ron McKernan

Early Life and Music

Ronald Charles McKernan was born on September 8, 1945, in San Bruno, California. His father, Phil McKernan, was a radio host who played R&B and blues music. Ron grew up loving African American music and culture.

When he was young, he taught himself to play blues piano, guitar, and harmonica. He moved to Palo Alto, California, with his family. There, he met musician Jerry Garcia when he was 14 years old.

McKernan collected many old blues records called 78s. He spent time in coffeehouses and music stores. He also worked at Dana Morgan's Music Store with Jerry Garcia.

One night, Garcia invited McKernan to play harmonica and sing blues on stage. Garcia was very impressed. McKernan became the blues singer in local jam sessions. He was first called "Blue Ron" before people started calling him "Pigpen." Some say he got the nickname because he was a bit messy. Others say it was because he looked like the character Pig-Pen from the Peanuts comic strip.

Joining the Grateful Dead

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (second from left) with the Grateful Dead in 1970.

Ron McKernan, Jerry Garcia, and Bob Weir were part of earlier bands before the Grateful Dead. These included the Zodiacs and Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions. Later, drummer Bill Kreutzmann joined, and the band became the Warlocks.

Around 1965, McKernan told the Warlocks to start using electric instruments. Soon after, bassist Phil Lesh joined, and they changed their name to the Grateful Dead. The band wanted McKernan to be a part of the group. He was their first leader and was known as the best singer and frontman.

In the beginning, the Grateful Dead played mostly blues and R&B songs. McKernan chose these songs. By late 1966, Jerry Garcia's musical skills grew, and the band's style began to change. This meant McKernan's role became smaller.

In 1967, drummer Mickey Hart joined the Grateful Dead. Then, in 1968, keyboard player Tom Constanten joined. These changes made the band's music even more different. McKernan found it hard to play the new songs that Garcia and Lesh wrote.

In October 1968, McKernan and Weir almost left the band. Garcia and Lesh felt their playing was slowing the band down. But McKernan promised to improve and rejoined. He also started taking lessons for the Hammond organ.

After Tom Constanten left in 1970, McKernan took over keyboard duties again. However, on later albums like Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, other musicians played most of the keyboard parts. Even though Garcia sometimes felt frustrated, Lesh understood. He said it was okay for Pigpen to take it easy because he was "one of us."

Music Style

Ron McKernan sang and played blues-inspired organ and harmonica. He used different organs, including the Lowrey T1, Vox Continental, and later the Hammond B-3. He often used the Hammond organ for live shows.

McKernan sang lead on many classic songs. These included "Pain in My Heart" by Otis Redding and "In the Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett. He would sing without playing an instrument, except for his harmonica. He also loved to interact with the audience.

When the band first started, McKernan sang most of the lead vocals. He helped attract early fans who came to hear him sing and play harmonica. He also helped manage the band, making sure they got paid for their shows.

McKernan's early rock style fit the band's first recordings. But it was less suited for their later psychedelic music. Even so, his singing was a very important part of their live shows. He suggested new songs for the band to play, like "Hard to Handle" by Otis Redding and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown.

In 1969, McKernan became very well-known for singing "Turn On Your Love Light". This song often lasted 15 to 30 minutes in concerts. He would make up lyrics as the band played. When the Grateful Dead played at Woodstock, their set ended with this song.

McKernan did not write many songs himself. He preferred to sing blues covers and make up lyrics on the spot. He wrote "Operator" for the 1970 album American Beauty. He also co-wrote "Mr. Charlie" with Robert Hunter. This song appeared on the live album Europe '72, which was his last album with the band.

Personal Life

McKernan was good friends with American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin. They shared similar musical interests and lifestyles. They even sang together on stage a few times.

He also became close friends with fellow keyboard player Tom Constanten. McKernan was the best man at Constanten's first wedding.

In the early days of the Grateful Dead, McKernan was easy to spot because of his "biker" look. This made him a bit famous. In 1969, the band's record company, Warner Bros., even held a "Pigpen Look-Alike Contest."

Health and Passing

McKernan's headstone in Alta Mesa Memorial Park. The inscription reads "Pigpen was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead".

McKernan's way of life began to affect his health when he was in his mid-twenties. After he was in the hospital in August 1971, doctors told him to stop touring. Another pianist, Keith Godchaux, then joined the Grateful Dead.

McKernan rejoined the band in December 1971 to play harmonica, percussion, and organ. But his health got worse again, and he could no longer perform. On June 17, 1972, he played his last concert at the Hollywood Bowl. He then decided to stop seeing the band members, saying, "I don't want you around when I die."

On March 8, 1973, he was found passed away at his home in Corte Madera, California. He was 27 years old. Even though his contributions to the band had become smaller, the other members were very sad about his passing. McKernan was buried at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California. Jerry Garcia spoke at his funeral, saying that after Pigpen's death, "this was the end of the original Grateful Dead."

Legacy

Even though he looked tough, friends and writers about the band said McKernan was a quiet, kind, and thoughtful person. Mickey Hart, the drummer, once said, "Pigpen was the musician in the Grateful Dead." Bill Kreutzmann, another drummer, said McKernan was "the sweetest guy anybody had ever met."

Later, Bob Weir was inspired by McKernan's ability to connect with the crowd and make up lyrics. Weir took over as a frontman in concerts. He started bringing back songs that McKernan used to sing. Weir began singing "Good Lovin'" with the Dead in 1974. The band also brought back "Turn On Your Love Light" in 1981, with Weir singing lead.

"He's Gone," a song from the live album Europe '72, became a tribute to McKernan. The lyricist Robert Hunter said it became "an anthem for Pigpen."

McKernan was honored after his death by being added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Discography

Images for kids

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  McKernan in 1968

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  Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (second from left) as part of the Grateful Dead in 1970.

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  McKernan's headstone in Alta Mesa Memorial Park. The inscription reads "Pigpen was and is now forever one of the Grateful Dead".