It's hard to believe but Jerry would have been 70 this year! We're commemorating his life and legacy with a few touching tributes by Robert Hunter, David Grisman, Mountain Girl, David Crosby, Bruce Hornsby, and more unearthed and brought to you by the good folks behind Dupree's Diamond News. Originally published as part of GARCIA - A Grateful Celebration, be sure to have a hanky handy because these memories certainly caused us to shed a tear or two. If you're looking to remember Jerry through his music, we've got a prime selection of Jerry's finest studio cuts in our exclusive listening party curated by archivist David Lemieux. And join us on a trip back in time with a slideshow of Jerry through the ages. Gone, but most certainly not forgotten...
Honor The Example by Dennis McNally
The Dead stands for something - it stands for a cosmic sense of humor, for a spirit of adventure, for compassion for our fellow beings, for skepticism, for some honesty, for whatever the hell you make of it. We've all got to grieve over Jerry's passing - and then we've all got to go out and honor the example that he, we you have set for the past 30 years. And we shall. To quote Hart, "Failure is not an option."
An Elegy for Jerry by Robert Hunter
|
Jerry, my friend, As ever when we called, |
How should she desert us now? |
Missing Jerry by David Crosby
I remember laughing so hard I got the hiccups. Of course, that might have had something to do with the big sticky buds, but we were a pair of odd ducks anyway, and we cracked each other up a lot.
Jerry, Phil Mickey, and Bill all came to Wally Heider’s many nights when I was recording “If I Could Only Remember My Name.” So much fun, so MUCH music…
What did we lose? One of the best minds in music: articulate, always thinking fresh, original thoughts. Jerry didn’t tell you what he thought you wanted to hear, he told you what he thought.
Many Small Circles by Mountain Girl
Jerry’s passing has shaken and saddened our family members. He was our father, husband, brother, leader, and inspiration. He showed the way by living and thinking creatively. He was filled with gifts and gave freely and humorously to anyone nearby. He shared his imagination and keen sense of fun with everyone, yet also carried the passion for life that manifested clearly in his music.
Losing Jerry by John Perry Barlow
In the time since Jer shuffled off his sorry old meat and flew away, I have found myself incapable of writing about it, or even talking about it very much.
I’ve been silent as a flat coon on this, one of the most important deaths of my death-shadowed life. I’ve received hundreds of e-messages from my fellow bereaved, nearly all of them more eloquent in their grief than I could be in mine, despite their never having personally known the guy.
A Certain Connection by Bruce Hornsby
“To honor the Grateful Dead’s wishes, I’d like to have a moment – a moment of silence – for somebody who brought a lot of love to the world, our dear departed brother, Jerry Garcia.”
My Friend Jerry by David Grisman
Jerome Garcia was a great leader: musically, morally, and spiritually. He didn’t want it, he didn’t seek it, he didn’t ask for it, he may not have even liked it, but he carried that enormous weight with grace, dignity, and a huge sense of responsibility to his fellow man, particularly those less fortunate. If you needed help, he was there.
Jerry's Gone by Ram Dass
And here we are...still.
Made manifest,
Tune in to the Listening Party.
Display on homepage featured list
Off
dead comment
Jerry
For me, you are very much alive and well... Thank you for taking up such a huge, magical, memorable space in my life...
it's not over...
not for you, not for me....
My kids already know who you are... so will their kids, and so will their kids....
Peace, love and more love...
iGrateful
Garcia Day
For the past ten years I have renamed August 1 as Garcia Day. It is as much a holiday as all the others we celebrate. For us, though, it is much more. Jerry touched us in so many ways. When I have a bad day, a little Jerry makes it better. A good day becomes a great day. I quote lyrics in my day to day life.
Everyone have a happy and wonderful Garcia day tomorrow. I know I will.
Hippy Birthday Jerry
My life is what it is today because of your music. I grew up listening to you. I met my wife at a show, and my daughter now grown up tours the Furthur and alike.... Not a day goes by without a G.D. tune in my head. Oh how I miss the magical moments.
Forever Grateful,
Nappyhead
Happy 70th Jerry
The world remembers a great artist over the next ten days. Jerry will always be a legend. The music he gave us is a gift that we will always have. You are missed Jerry Garcia. We will honor you and remember you for simply being you.
Coconut Phil
Happy Birthday Jerry
I've been a fan of Jerry since the '60s. His death was one of the saddest moments of my life so far. I just keep playing the music and rejoicing in the works he's left us.
Thanks Jerry for making my life a better place with your music.
Happy Jerry Day!
Like most of you out there I didn't know Jerry personally, but seemed to know him well through his music and ideas. His passing was a huge, monumental loss to all of us not just for his music but his approach to the world we find ourselves in. He always cut through the BS and tried to find the humanity behind the appearances-he seemed to have the best instinct for what was right-in the existential sense of it all. He was an example for how to do things righteously. He was rightly sceptical about a lot of stuff that was out there pushing a cause-he would be involved not for ego but for the real value of the thing I always thought. I have thought my kids to look past the demons and assess him for the value he brought to LIFE when he was healthy. Don't forget the sense of humor either. Maybe we'll all unite on the other side.
Wow
The newsletter was right, tears flowed reading these tributes. Ive never been good at putting my thoughts into words, but so many others have said it all for me. I miss Jerry, but We ALWAYS have the music, and the riveting Dark Star in my headphones now puts a smile on my face and a groove in my step!
Hippy Birthday!
And what a day...
1. Ship date for DaP 3
2. Re-release date for DP 27 & 28
3. New box set announcement
4. Movie meet-up
Short of being able to attend shows 'back in the day', it's the greatest time since to be a deadhead...hooray!
Happy Jerry Day!!
Thoroughly enjoying the Listening Party right now - a delicious Other One.Everyone have a kind day out there! rememebr Jerry in all our special ways.
Looking forward to the event on Saturday in Philly - going to do that instead of the movie tonight, Sounds like it should be really cool. if you are close to Philly, and unaware - chek this out, look under 'Announcements'. http://www.northbowlphilly.com/index.php
Very much looking forward to the noon announcement as well !
have a Grateful Day kind souls!
I'm well into the >...
...of the Scarlet Fire on the Closing of Winterland DVD. It makes me very happy. We miss you every day Jer. Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday Jerry!
When I look at the stars in the sky at night,I think of you and those magical nights,
You pulled each string upon my soul,
Like Gabriell's trump, a rock and roll war
Happy Birthday and I'll see /hear you again somewhere in time!
'softly, dear boy, we don't want to DISTURB the doughnut'
good news for those who don't own the original.Fantasy Records will reissue the Keystone Companions/Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings by Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders.
a four CD set with previously unreleased tracks, a special booklet featuring vintage photos; plus a poster, coaster, button, and “scratchbook” (replicating the design of the original album’s promotional matchbooks).
even better news for those who don't own the original.
Fantasy Records will also concurrently reissue the very first Saunders/Garcia album, Live at Keystone on multi-color double vinyl LP.
Re-Membering Awake
Gratitude for this spaceto share
to re-member
Jerry
How his Light
Awakened our Light
Ram Dass said it sweetly
"Through him and his mythic playmates came the sound that
Connected us to our deeper selves...
This was our spiritual practice..."
Jerry woke me up
He was my guru
before I knew what that was
He is my guru
poking me when asleep
playing the strings of my heart awake
~ Muchas Gracias Hermano ~
Happy Birthday
You were part of the soundtrack of my life since 1968. You turn 70 as I turn 60. You may be gone, but you live on in my iPod...all I need is earbuds to go back to that happy time. Happy Birthday!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY!!!
Thanks for all the awesome memories and for all the awesome music, that plays in my head everyday!!! I will never forget our times together!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY!!!
Thanks for giving us a place to remember one of our dearest brothers on his 70th Birthday!!! I first saw the Grateful Dead in the summer of 1968 and it changed my life! I came back to Oklahoma and told everybody what I had seen and heard and it was years later, that my friends and brothers finally knew what had happened to me. The Grateful Dead was the backbone to my life and I saw them many times, every time they were in Oklahoma and near by states, Texas, Kansas, Colorado. I have seen them so many times, I can't even remember them all, if you know what I mean. I love the Grateful Dead like no other band in the world, and I listen to them almost every day! I was in the hospital for a year and a half after a truck/motorcycle accident near Dallas, Texas and checked out of the hospital for one day to see the Dead in Dallas with my friends, and after the show, checked myself back in the hospital. My doctors and nurses could not believe what I did and ask how I could have stood the pain, and I said what pain!!! I saw the Grateful Dead!!! I used to work all year long with no breaks just so I could take off for the summer and see some shows in my part of the USA. Some of the best memories of my live, center around the Grateful Dead and Jerry, travailing to the shows and I will never ever forget those very special times!!! Jerry, HAPPY BIRTHDAY and Thank you for all the great music that you have left us all!!!
happy birthday
my 4 year old daughter and i were listen to and talking about the grateful dead and jerry the other day when she asked me "jerry is dead, right dad?" i replied "yes he is" to which she happily added "but he still lives when we listen to the music."
happy birthday jerry...
Oh man Zarmontavious
I just started to cry. Beautiful comment from your insightful daughter.
I love you Jerry.
Happy Birthday and Thank You, Jerry!!!
We miss you.
Thank goodness for all the recordings.
Missing you....
Man, I miss Jerry. I always wonder what it would be like to hang with Jerry, in those moments when he was just noodling around on a guitar, at ease, nothing going on. The closest I can come to that is this: I was at a show at SPAC in 85'. It was the only time I had inside seats and I was like maybe 20 rows from the stage. I was standing on my chair to get a better look at him and I SWEAR he looked over the top of his glasses and smiled at me! I'm sure that I was mistaken, he was probably just checking out the crowd and smiling. But I felt such ELATION when he looked my way that it didn't matter if he was looking at me or not. I felt energized, I felt joy, I felt alive. The smile on my face was 10 feet wide! Bigger than the Cheshire Cat's grin. I bet that is what it was like to be around him. I hope to see him on the other side someday.
Jerry
Happy b-day my old best friend I never met. I saw you all the time from 1983 until you left us. You are with us every day. Thank you for a real good time........You would love Terrapin Crossroads, Tri Studios and all the other stuff your old buddies are up to. Your brothers are up to some great stuff keeping the vibe alive. They play with musicians that were babies when I was seeing you in high school and college. They love your music and do it justice. I spoke to Phil back in March at his new club and he was so happy and fired up to have us there. We miss you brother. So much.
Feliz Sonrisa.
Once I met Ken Kesey with Ken Babbs in London.As he was reading and telling tales of wonderment.Someone asked,if he would welcome some music.He simply answer to play some more Dead.There it was next,the sound of ' Workingman's Dead '.Later on,as I was there with my friend Ron (r.i.p.),with whom we had discovered Kesey would be there in the evening,went to talk to him.As soon as we shook hands like we had known each other.Ron says: ''here,my spanish friend just said: this has got to be Paradise with Jerry in one ear and Ken in the other...'' Then Ken said: 'we're coming to realise this century has had the greatest teachers that we ever had...'.We went on lengthly about great other people we admired.We could had been going forever ,but ,the record store at Picadilly had to close.I agreed that I had been one of many being touched by Jerry's amazing spiritual smile while playing such sweet warm sounds as if being felt as one happiness..Thus,if in this life one could be grateful would had been meeting such fateful luck.Never say goodbye but hasta la vista.Happy birthday Jerry Garcia!!!!
HEY JERRY!!!!
Happy birthday my friend. People ask me from time to time if I was a DeadHead and I answer them "STILL AM". Always have been and always will be. Thanks for the music that still fills my spirit and moves my feet.
--------------------------------------(-----@
Sweet MusicPlayed in
Right-hearted-ness.
Made this a great day!
I had to better myself today
and I did.
Took time to play and be merry too.
(((((70))))
Seventy Beautiful Years Ah, Ah, Ah, ah!
"Where does the time go?"
Happy Birthday Jerry
Lay down my dear brotherLay down and take your rest
You layed your head on your savior's breast
We will always love you
But Jesus loves you the best
And you bid us goodnight
G'd rest your soul Jerry
Happy B-day Jerry
and thank you.....now it's time to lay back and listen
comforting
to be with this peaceful community remembering and reliving. Listen to the music, that's all.
Ballgame report
The Mets edged the Giants last night 2 - 1. Can I get an eyewitness account of the tribute activity in honor of Jerry's birthday? Thanks !!
Jerry Re-Assuring Spirit
About a month or so ago, I lost my best friend -- my dog "William Butler Yeats" ("Yeatsy" for short). Hard loss as all can imagine and likely have experienced. I mediated and prayed for the guy that he be in Heaven w/ all our loved ones who have gone on. My very good friend comforted me by telephone -- advising that I put on some tunes and try to take it easy -- I knew tunes wern't going to do it -- I needed silence and to not "run" from the pain. After meditating and praying and being in silence for some hours, I decided late at night to follow my friends advice and put on the satellite radio (always tuned in to the GD channel, of course) . . . silence . . . I thought I lost the signal, didn't pay the bill, technical glitch of who knows what . . . then out of the silence I hear our dear friend and brother's voice singing a capella from way back when:
"Lay down, my dear brother
Lay down and take your rest;
A won't ya lay your head upon your Saviour's breast;
I love you . . . oh, but Jesus loves you the best
And I bid ya good night, good night, good night."
I was stopped in my tracks. Stood in front stoned sober and drank every note and word. T'was then I felt at ease, comfort and reassured that my best friend had joined my other best friend (whom I've never met) and that there's no need to fear the unknown, but instead to have faith and trust and love. I could have put on the satellite radio at any other time of the night -- before, after but it happened right at the right time -- synchronicity at its finest. I guess ya had to tbe there -- chilling, really.
Thank you, Jerry . . . and I look forward to meeting you in time. In the meantime, give a belly rub to Yeats for me. You guys are always in my prayers.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday Jerry, thank you for all the love, it never ends :-)
Highlights from game last night.
Would love to see if Jer's youngest threw out the pitch and maybe some peeps holding some bobble heads. Heres bobby's anthem:
http://youtu.be/MWHcTvV3wEI
hawk
Very cool - Jerry Days Between week
Very cool ~ Jerry Days Between week is great this year. With "MOVE ME BRIGHTLY" , Spring 1990 Box Set pre-order, and a NEW Jerry website up today jerrygarcia.com and a new CD/ download pre-order "GARCIALIVE Vol#1". All I can say is WOW !
The Days Between
How does one comment about the life and music of Jerry Garcia?
There are so many times where the songs have brought me to a better place, the meaning of Robert Hunter's lyrics with the sweet sounds of Jerry's playing.
I can say that I believe that the world is a better place because of the love and spirit that Jerry gave to us.
While we celebrate his 70th birthday, we also remember that in 1995 his passing was way to young, and who knows what more would have been in the past 17 years.
While the song "Days Between" may not be the most popular Dead song of all time the words below are most appropriate:
There were days
and there were days
and there were days between
Summer flies and August dies...
Ballgame report
Maybe it was just me, as I was a bit under the weather, or maybe it was the full moon, but the game didn't have as much of a "Deady" vibe as the two years prior.
They played a lot of non-Dead music between innings (huh??), still used Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" for the late inning sing-along (huh???). I'd have chosen Truckin' if I had a say in that selection. Can you imagine 42,000 people belting out "what a lonnng, strange trip it's been"? That would have been way cool. Or how about Buster Posey strutting up to the plate to "Shakedown Street"? The possibilities are endless!
Also, I would have thrown in some tasty "Other One" or "The Eleven" jams in between innings to freak out the non-Dead crowd. How fun it would have been to see the uninitiated reacting to their freshly-blown minds!
Jerry's youngest daughter, Keelin, threw out the first pitch - a blooper for a strike. Bobby, Jackie Greene and third base coach Tim Flannery sang a really beautiful anthem, although the microphone crapped out a couple times during their performance.
All in all, it's very cool that the Giants do this every year. And aside from the wrong team winning, it was a pleasant evening. Just could use a bit more Deadness, in my opinion.
One of the greatest musicians of all time
I, of course, echo all the fine sentiments expressed by my brothers and sisters here. What I'd like to add, as a guitarist with nearly 50 years of experience, is that Jerry was one of the two greatest rock guitarists I've ever seen or heard, the other being Jimi. In my opinion they were both channels, as much as they were guitarists. That, among other things, really set them apart. I lived in the Bay Area for 20 years and got to see Jerry with the Dead and all his side bands, and when you saw him that much you observed the moments, if you were down in front, where he'd look at you while playing - never looking at the fretboard, with a searching gaze like, "Is this good, are we making it?", then a smile, "There, that's more like it." Then invariably he'd gaze into the distance, lock in, and the most amazing endless riffs would soar out. It was an ego-less place, different from where Clapton or Page are coming from. Hendrix knew that place too (see "Voodoo Child" from the Woodstock set) but didn't live long enough to develop to the dimensions that Jerry did. Jimi looked like the Hollywood version of himself, and Jerry like a kindly rabbi, but Jerry could play any kind of music in any band convincingly, and in that, he stands alone.
Ball game tips
Thank you bolo24 and hawk900 for the live reporting. The you tube piece is nice
New Jerry Garcia Archive release Vol.1
http://jerrygarcia.shop.musictoday.com
Check out this link, they are taking pre-orders for Vol.1, and have poster and t-shirt packages available.
This is good news, not being mentioned by Dead.net at all is odd.
Phil
Hey Truckineric - I second
Hey Truckineric - I second that emotion - wholeheartedly.
Missin' Jerry
17 years ago today. Seems like yesterday. I can still tell you the exact spot of ground I was standing on when I got "the phone call" from our friend in California. He said rumors are coming over the news that they had discovered Jerry's body at the rehab center. Of corse I told him f*ck you don't even make a joke about that. He just held the phone up to the tv as news confirmed the sad truth, just minutes before the news started coming over the local radio here in New York. I'll never forget that moment it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I just knealt on the floor and cried. I've had many other people I know leave this life, but no one, except when my mother died, effected me that way. What was it about Jerry, someone most of us never even met effect us like that.
Miss ya everyday Jer.......RIP Captain!!
Ram Dass Sums It Up!
For sure we will grieve the monumental loss of our friend...JerryFor a long...long...long...time.
Most likely we will go through some powerful depression
And despair...
We may even court cynicism...
After all...it's not easy to lose your connection.
But Jerry's legacy to us is more profound than all of that.
He is in us...
Just as we have been in him.
We have all been not a tribe... or a family,
But a bubble of awareness
Riding upon the ocean of sound
That is in and beyond the sounds we ear hear.
Ode to Jerry Garcia
This is a ode that I wrote for my creative writing class. I chose to write about Jerry because of the music of the Grateful Dead has seen me through many happy as well as sad times in my life.
Ode To Jerry Garcia
“Cosmic Charlie” where have you gone to?
Beyond the veil where your millions cannot follow you.
Creator, Savior, Humanitarian, and Bard.
Music flowed from your nine mesmerizing fingers.
Loved by sages and fools they traveled with you around the world.
Led by your message of peace, joy, and music.
Though your life was not always a “sunshine daydream”.
Time was cut short when your body turned Judas.
Trying to get free from the chains of the snow poppies.
The noise you made outlived you!
Loved by hordes to this day.
Though the sacred river of the Hindus took your body away.
Cosmic Charlie performed by The Grateful Dead
Lyrics By: Robert Hunter
Music By: Jerry Garcia
Sunshine Daydream performed by The Grateful Dead
Lyrics By: Unknown
Music By: Unknown
For Jerry
For Jerry Garcia 8/9/12
Yours was a mask of heroes.
You asked no worship
or obedience, only muscle
and music to add to your own.
I followed you into the labyrinth
and rejoiced when you slew the minotaur
and returned our brethren
to their birthright of liberty.
I pledged to sing your stories when the king,
trembling at Cerberus, released you
and generously you carried
the beast home to Hades.
And I wept like a mother
when, felled by the heel,
you returned to Styx
even as Ilium burned.
-Pat Blackman
Miss you Jerry
I do believe the world is a better place having had you in it. I learned from you. I am glad that the band is carrying the torch in their ways. Nothing to do but smile, smile, smile.