Music News

Last Friday one of the Bay Area’s legendary musicians, Merl Saunders, passed away at the ripe old age of 74. Merl was probably best known as the organist for the Grateful Dead, though his collaborations with members of the Dead, most notable his work with Jerry Garcia, reached across the last three decades. But really that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Merl was a legend in the world of jazz, busting out grooves on the organ and electric piano with wild abandon and breathtaking acumen. A true genius on the Hammond B3 organ, his career included performing and recording with everyone from Johnny Mathis, Miles Davis, Dinah Washington, Phish, and Huey Lewis to B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, John Fogerty, and Frank Sinatra.

On top of his numerous legendary collaborations, he also had his own label, Summertone Records, and scored a handful of TV shows themes.

In 2002 he suffered a tragic stroke that caused him to lose the use of one side of his body, which basically ended his music career. In spite of that he managed to remain a strong force on the Bay Area music scene, sometimes playing his Hammond B3 organ one handed.

Merl was known as The Grandfather of the Jam Band. This makes sense because now he’s somewhere playing with all the old greats in the greatest jam band of all.

Jam on Merl, Jam on.

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