Jerry Garcia Leaves a Legacy Behind

Lead Guitarist of the Grateful Dead dies SAN FRANCISO-Millions of Deadheads around the world are mourning the death of Jerome John Garcia, better known as Jerry Garcia. Garcia, the lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead died on Sunday in Marin County, California at the age of 53. According to the Marin County Sheriffs Office, Garcia died at 4:23 a.m. PDT from a heart attack. He was in bed at Serenity Knolls, a residential treatment center for drug addiction at the time. Garcia had suffered from diabetes and ill health for several years prior to his death.
Garcia on stage playing the guitar doing what he loved most.
Source: Dozin.com

The lifestyle was crazy, fans were mesmerized, and the world loved their music. For many fans, Jerry Garcia and his five band mates not only created music, but also a way of life. Millions of devoted fans, Deadheads, followed them from concert to concert across the nation. Garcia was born in San Francisco on Aug. 1, 1942. He was surrounded by musical influences at an early age. His father, Jose Garcia, was a retired professional musician and his mother, Ruth Marie, was a piano player. Garcia took piano lessons for most of his childhood. At age four, Garcia lost two-thirds of his right middle finger in a wood chopping accident, which ended his piano career and could have ended his musical career.

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When Garcia was 5 years old his father died. From that point on Garcia struggled to find a true passion. After only one year of high school, he tried areas in sales, teaching and the military. He enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute and proved to be a talented artist. His abstract art was marketed in a line of neckties and earned more than $30 million. It wasnt until 1964 when Garcia formed a rock group, the Warlocks, that he found his niche. The original band
Garcia was passionate about art. He expressed his abstract art through a line of neckties.
Source: Tiesnow.com

members were Bob Weir, Ron Pigpen McKernan, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzman. In 1966, the group became known as the Grateful

Dead, a unique group that combined rock, bluegrass, blues and folk music. In an interview with The Rolling Stone, Garcia said, We never decided to be the Grateful Dead. What happened was the Grateful Dead came up as a suggestion because we were at Phils house one day; he had a big Oxford dictionary, I opened it up and the first thing I saw was The Grateful Dead it was truly weird... From that point on, the band was known as the Grateful Dead. It wasnt easy for Garcia to find music and settle into his life. It took a near-death experience for him to realize what he was meant to do. In 1961 Garcia, 19, and three of his friends got in a fatal car crash. Garcia and two others survived. (more)
The Grateful Dead come together to pose for fans
Source: Zrockblog.com

This was when Garcia gave up his career and love for art to pursue music. Garcia said, Thats where my life began. Before then I was always living at less than capacity That was the slingshot for the rest of m life. It was like a second chance. Garcia played a major role in the success of the Grateful Dead. He was the lead guitarist, composer and occasional vocalist. Some of the bands best-known songs are Truckin, Casey Jones, and Friend of the Devil. The 1987 song Touch of Grey was the bands only top 10 hit. In addition to the Grateful Dead, Garcia created and participated in numerous other musical projects such as; the Saunders-Garcia Band, Jerry Garcia Band, Old and in the Way, The Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo, Legion of Mary, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage. He also released a number of solo albums and collaborated with various artists. The Rolling Stones magazine recognized Garcia as number 13 in its 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time cover story. He was well known for his distinct guitar-playing techniques. Living the life of a rock star made it hard for Garcia to resist temptations; police and medical records confirm Garcia had a tendency to experiment with drugs. Police frequently raided Garcia and fellow band mates houses frequently and often found numerous drugs. (more)
Garcia was recognized by Rolling Stones as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time.
Source: Musicofourheart.me

Garcia had an alternative take on drugs and he once said, I think it's too bad that everybody's decided to turn on drugs, I don't think drugs are the problem. Crime is the problem. Cops are the problem. Money's the problem. But drugs are just drugs. Garcias unique take on life also transcribed to his take on death. In an interview with KFOG-FM in 1993 Garcia spoke about how he hoped to be remembered one day he said: Ideally I would just like to disappear gracefully and not leave behind any legacy to hang people up. I dont want people agonizing over who or what I was when I was here when Im not here anymore. I would like to be though of as a competent musician. That would be good. Id like that. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Koons Garcia, a Marin County filmmaker and four daughters: Heather, 32, Annabelle, 25, Teresa, 21 and Keelin, 6. Funeral arrangements are undecided at this time. Despite Garcias desire to leave no legacy behind his keeps growing. Numerous albums, songs and television shows have been released to pay tribute to his life. The world will continue to remember and honor his accomplishments. Whether it be by song dedications, television shows, or by eating bowls of Ben & Jerrys Cherry Garcia ice cream his legacy will live on.

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