Jerry Garcia

Jerome John “Jerry” Garcia (1942–1995) was an American musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist and a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Born in San Francisco, he helped shape the band’s blend of rock, folk, blues, and improvisation, becoming a central figure in the 1960s counterculture and the jam-band tradition. Garcia’s expressive guitar style and distinctive voice anchored the Dead’s long, exploratory live performances. Beyond the Grateful Dead, he led the Jerry Garcia Band and collaborated widely, including work with David Grisman. He died in 1995, leaving an enduring legacy in American popular music.