As the lead guitar player in a rock 'n' roll band, Jerry Garcia naturally drew the spotlight. But it was his warm, charismatic personality that won the affection of millions of Dead Heads. He first picked up the electric guitar at 15, before moving into the acoustic folk scene, mastering bluegrass banjo. Inspired by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Garcia and his friends formed the Warlocks in 1965, soon renaming themselves the Grateful Dead. Over thirty years the band evolved from electric blues to jazzy psychedelic experimentation to country to its unique synthesis of American musical styles. While his guitar drove the band's sound, Jerry Garcia's songwriting partnership with Robert Hunter produced many of the Grateful Dead’s most enduring songs, including “Dark Star,” “Uncle John’s Band,” and their lone Top 10 hit, “Touch of Grey.” Beyond the Dead Jerry Garcia defined himself as an American original, ranging across art, film and making his favorite music in his own bands. The father of four daughters, Jerry passed away from a heart attack in 1995. With his death the Grateful Dead came to an end, leaving a legacy of music and community that continues to resonate worldwide.
