Merl Saunders
Encyclopedia
Merl Saunders, was an American
multi-genre
musician
who played piano
and keyboards
, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ.
, Saunders attended Polytechnic High School with singer Johnny Mathis
. He served in the Army from 1953 to 1957. He worked as musical director of the Billy Williams
Revue and served in a similar capacity in Oscar Brown Jr.'s off-Broadway show, Big Time Buck White.
He gained notice in the 1970s when he began collaborating with Jerry Garcia
, with whom he had begun playing in 1971 at a small Fillmore Street nightclub called the Matrix. He sat in with the Grateful Dead
, and co-founded the Saunders/Garcia Band which produced three albums, and which became The Legion of Mary
with the addition of Martin Fierro
(sax) in 1974. It disbanded the following year, but he and Garcia continued to collaborate in the band Reconstruction
from 1979 to 1980.
He led his own band as Merl Saunders and Friends, playing live dates with Garcia, as well as Mike Bloomfield
, David Grisman
, Michael Hinton, Tom Fogerty
, Vassar Clements
, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn
and Sheila E.
. He also collaborated with Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart in the band High Noon.
Merl Saunders took the lead in reintroducing Jerry Garcia to his guitar after Jerry suffered a diabetic coma in the summer of 1986.
In 1990 he released the world music and New Age classic album Blues From the Rainforest, a collaboration with Jerry Garcia
and Muruga Booker
. This led to the release of a video which chronicled Saunders' journey to the Amazon, and the subsequent albums Fiesta Amazonica, It's in the Air, and Save the Planet so We'll Have Someplace to Boogie. One of the songs from Blues From the Rainforest was used as part of the soundtrack for the TV series Baywatch. Saunders continued to perform with the Rainforest Band
for the next ten years.
He has worked with musicians Paul Pena
, Bonnie Raitt
, Phish
, Widespread Panic
, Miles Davis
, and B. B. King
. Merl also recorded with The Dinosaurs
, a "supergroup
" of first-generation Bay Area rock musicians.
He had his own record label
, Summertone Records, and had also recorded on Fantasy Records
, Galaxy Records
and Relix Records as well as the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia labels. He worked with the Grateful Dead
on the theme music for the 1985 TV show The New Twilight Zone
, and as musical director he worked with Mickey Hart
on the score for the show. He also worked on the TV series Nash Bridges, and worked on several soundtracks for movies, including Fritz the Cat and Steelyard Blues. He was production co-ordinator for the Grammy Awards for two years, and for the Grammy's Greatest Moments TV special. He also supplied the music for the computer animation video Headcandy: Sidney's Psychedelic Adventure.
He worked with several charitable organizations such as the Seva Foundation
, the Rex Foundation
, the Rainforest Action Network
, and the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, and headlined the Haight Street Music Fair for 24 consecutive years. He has been granted a Doctorate of Music by Unity College, in Unity, Maine.
In 2002, Merl suffered from a stroke that paralyzed one side of his body and curtailed his musical career. Merl Saunders died in San Francisco, California
on the morning of October 24, 2008, after fighting infections as a result of complications related to the stroke which he suffered in 2002. He is survived by his two sons, Tony Saunders (bassist)
and Merl Saunders Jr. (a senior executive director of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
), and his daughter Susan Mora.
In December 2008, TMZ reported the estate of Merl Saunders had filed a lawsuit against the estate of Jerry Garcia, disputing royalties for a 2004 live album. Saunders’ estate claims they were not aware of the album’s release and claim they have equal rights to the royalties. They want compensation for over $100,000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
multi-genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ.
Biography
Born in San Mateo, CaliforniaSan Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
, Saunders attended Polytechnic High School with singer Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
. He served in the Army from 1953 to 1957. He worked as musical director of the Billy Williams
Billy Williams
Billy Williams may refer to:* Billy Williams , Yorkshire cricketer* Billy Williams , Hall of Fame baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A's...
Revue and served in a similar capacity in Oscar Brown Jr.'s off-Broadway show, Big Time Buck White.
He gained notice in the 1970s when he began collaborating with Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, with whom he had begun playing in 1971 at a small Fillmore Street nightclub called the Matrix. He sat in with the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
, and co-founded the Saunders/Garcia Band which produced three albums, and which became The Legion of Mary
Legion of Mary (band)
Legion of Mary was an American rock band, formed by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead and his friend and musical collaborator Merl Saunders. The band lasted from July 12, 1974 to July 5, 1975. Its members included Garcia , Saunders , John Kahn , Martin Fierro and Paul Humphrey...
with the addition of Martin Fierro
Martin Fierro (saxophonist)
Martin Fierro was a tenor saxophonist who played in the jazz, freeform rock, and avant-garde traditions. Fierro played with the Sir Douglas Quintet, Legion of Mary / Jerry Garcia, James Cotton, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Loudon Wainwright III, Queen Ida, Jazz Is Dead, The String Cheese...
(sax) in 1974. It disbanded the following year, but he and Garcia continued to collaborate in the band Reconstruction
Reconstruction (band)
Reconstruction was a band formed in 1978 by John Kahn initially to occupy him while Jerry Garcia, his long-time musical collaborator, was busy with the Grateful Dead. The band's original guitar player was Jerry Miller, best-known for performing with Moby Grape...
from 1979 to 1980.
He led his own band as Merl Saunders and Friends, playing live dates with Garcia, as well as Mike Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield
Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70...
, David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
, Michael Hinton, Tom Fogerty
Tom Fogerty
Thomas Richard "Tom" Fogerty was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist in Creedence Clearwater Revival and the elder brother of John Fogerty, lead singer and lead guitarist in that band....
, Vassar Clements
Vassar Clements
Vassar Clements was a Grammy Award- winning American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and bluegrass along with roots also in country and other musical...
, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn
John Kahn
John Kahn was an American rock bass player. For a period of about twenty five years Kahn was Jerry Garcia's principal collaborator outside of the Grateful Dead.-Biography:...
and Sheila E.
Sheila E.
Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
. He also collaborated with Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart in the band High Noon.
Merl Saunders took the lead in reintroducing Jerry Garcia to his guitar after Jerry suffered a diabetic coma in the summer of 1986.
In 1990 he released the world music and New Age classic album Blues From the Rainforest, a collaboration with Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
and Muruga Booker
Muruga Booker
Muruga Booker is an American drummer, recording artist, and Orthodox priest.- Biography :Booker was born Steven Bookvich in Detroit, Michigan on December 27, 1942 and is of Serbian decent. His father, Melvin Bookvich, was a shoemaker who played accordion. He has a wife, Shakti; a son, Aaron; and a...
. This led to the release of a video which chronicled Saunders' journey to the Amazon, and the subsequent albums Fiesta Amazonica, It's in the Air, and Save the Planet so We'll Have Someplace to Boogie. One of the songs from Blues From the Rainforest was used as part of the soundtrack for the TV series Baywatch. Saunders continued to perform with the Rainforest Band
Rainforest Band
The Rainforest Band is a jam band that spans several genres, including jazz, rock, world music, R&B, and funk. Founded in 1990, it produced four albums and performed for ten years.-History:...
for the next ten years.
He has worked with musicians Paul Pena
Paul Pena
Paul Pena was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist of Cape Verdean descent.His music from the first half of his career touched on Delta blues, jazz, morna, flamenco, folk and rock and roll...
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, and B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
. Merl also recorded with The Dinosaurs
The Dinosaurs
The Dinosaurs, formed in 1982, was a Bay Area supergroup to emerge from the psychedelic music era of San Francisco. The group consisted of Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company, John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Papa John Creach of Hot Tuna, Spencer Dryden of Jefferson...
, a "supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
" of first-generation Bay Area rock musicians.
He had his own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Summertone Records, and had also recorded on Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records is a United States-based record label that was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. They had previously operated a record-pressing plant called Circle Record Company before forming the Fantasy label...
, Galaxy Records
Galaxy Records
Galaxy Records was a subsidiary of Fantasy Records. It was established in 1951 and has been reactivated several times. Its first incarnation was as a 1950s jazz label. It was revived again in 1961 as a gospel and R&B label. It was last active from 1978 until the mid eighties.-Circa late...
and Relix Records as well as the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia labels. He worked with the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
on the theme music for the 1985 TV show The New Twilight Zone
The New Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is the first of two revivals of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series of the same name. It ran for two seasons on CBS before producing a final season for syndication.-Series history:...
, and as musical director he worked with Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
on the score for the show. He also worked on the TV series Nash Bridges, and worked on several soundtracks for movies, including Fritz the Cat and Steelyard Blues. He was production co-ordinator for the Grammy Awards for two years, and for the Grammy's Greatest Moments TV special. He also supplied the music for the computer animation video Headcandy: Sidney's Psychedelic Adventure.
He worked with several charitable organizations such as the Seva Foundation
Seva Foundation
Seva Foundation is an international health organization based in Berkeley, California, that was founded in 1978 by public health expert Dr. Larry Brilliant. Seva is best known for their work restoring eyesight to nearly 3 million blind people suffering from cataract blindness in places like Tibet,...
, the Rex Foundation
Rex Foundation
The Rex Foundation was created by "members of the Grateful Dead and Friends" in 1983 as a charitable non-profit organization to "proactively provide extensive community support to creative endeavors in the arts, sciences, and education." The organization is named after Rex Jackson, a Grateful Dead...
, the Rainforest Action Network
Rainforest Action Network
Rainforest Action Network is an environmental organization based in San Francisco, California, USA. The organization was founded by Randy "Hurricane" Hayes and Mike Roselle in 1985, with the financial help of Fund for Wild Nature....
, and the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, and headlined the Haight Street Music Fair for 24 consecutive years. He has been granted a Doctorate of Music by Unity College, in Unity, Maine.
In 2002, Merl suffered from a stroke that paralyzed one side of his body and curtailed his musical career. Merl Saunders died in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on the morning of October 24, 2008, after fighting infections as a result of complications related to the stroke which he suffered in 2002. He is survived by his two sons, Tony Saunders (bassist)
Tony Saunders (bassist)
Tony Saunders is an American bass player and keyboards player in the genres of jazz, gospel and world music. He is a composer, arranger, and music producer, and head of his own studio, Y-Not Muzik.-Biography:...
and Merl Saunders Jr. (a senior executive director of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
), and his daughter Susan Mora.
In December 2008, TMZ reported the estate of Merl Saunders had filed a lawsuit against the estate of Jerry Garcia, disputing royalties for a 2004 live album. Saunders’ estate claims they were not aware of the album’s release and claim they have equal rights to the royalties. They want compensation for over $100,000.
Tributes
- On Saturday, February 14, 2009 a tribute to Merl Saunders' life and musical career was held at the Great American Music HallGreat American Music HallThe Great American Music Hall is a concert hall in San Francisco, California. It is located on O'Farrell Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood on the same block as the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater...
. It featured actor/director Max GailMax GailMaxwell Trowbridge "Max" Gail, Jr. is an American actor who has starred in stage, television, and film roles. He most notably portrayed the role of Detective Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz on the television sitcom Barney Miller....
and Wavy GravyWavy GravyWavy Gravy is an American entertainer and activist for peace, best known for his hippie appearance, personality and beliefs. His moniker...
as M.C.s, and many past musical collaborators including Grateful Dead guitarist Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
, Tony Saunders, Dave Grisman, Michael Hinton, Melvin SealsMelvin SealsMelvin Seals is an American musician, best known as a long time member of the Jerry Garcia Band.-Early life and career:...
, Michael Warren, Larry Vann and Bill Vitt among others.
- A re-launch of the Rainforest Band as a tribute to Merl Saunders took place at the 29th Starwood FestivalStarwood FestivalThe Starwood Festival is a seven-day Neo-Pagan, New Age, multi-cultural and world music festival presented in mid- to late July. Approximately 1,500 people attend including staff, speakers and entertainers. The Starwood Festival is a camping event which holds workshops on a variety of subjects...
on July 25, 2009, the site of their last performance, featuring his son Tony Saunders, Michael Hinton, and other members of the Rainforest Band and other Saunders’ projects. Also appearing were Sikiru AdepojuSikiru AdepojuSikiru Adepoju is a percussionist and recording artist from Nigeria, primarily in the genres of traditional African music and world music. He plays a variety of instruments and styles.- Background :...
on talking drum and Douglas "Val" Serrant on steel drum and djembeDjembeA djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
.
Main studio, live and compilation releases
- 1968 - Soul Grooving - Merl Saunders Trio and Big Band
- 1972 - Heavy Turbulence - with Tom FogertyTom FogertyThomas Richard "Tom" Fogerty was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist in Creedence Clearwater Revival and the elder brother of John Fogerty, lead singer and lead guitarist in that band....
and Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead... - 1973 - Fire Up - with Tom FogertyTom FogertyThomas Richard "Tom" Fogerty was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist in Creedence Clearwater Revival and the elder brother of John Fogerty, lead singer and lead guitarist in that band....
and Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead... - 1973 - Live at the Keystone - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
- 1974 - Merl Saunders
- 1976 - You Can Leave Your Hat On - with Aunt Monk
- 1979 - Do I Move You
- 1982 - San Francisco After Dark
- 1988 - Meridien Dreams
- 1988 - Keystone Encores Vol. 1 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
- 1988 - Keystone Encores Vol. 2 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
- 1988 - Live at the Keystone Vol. 1 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
- 1988 - Live at the Keystone Vol. 2 - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt
- Feelings
- 1990 - Blues From The Rainforest: A Musical Suite - Featuring Muruga Booker, Eddie Moore, Shakti, Special Guest: Jerry Garcia
- 1991 - Save The Planet So We'll Have Someplace To Boogie - Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band
- 1992 - Fire Up Plus - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Tom Fogerty and Ron Tutt
- 1993 - It's In The Air - Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band
- 1995 - Still Having Fun
- 1997 - Keepers - Merl Saunders and Friends
- 1998 - Fiesta Amazonica - Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band
- 1998 - The Twilight Zone (Vol. 1): Original Soundtrack from the TV series - Grateful Dead & Merl Saunders
- 1998 - Merl Saunders Live With His Funky Friends
- 2000 - Struggling Man - Merl Saunders & His Funky Friends
- 2004 - Still Groovin
- 2004 - Keystone Berkeley: September 1, 1974 with Jerry Garcia
- 2005 - Legion of Mary: The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1 - Legion of MaryLegion of Mary (band)Legion of Mary was an American rock band, formed by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead and his friend and musical collaborator Merl Saunders. The band lasted from July 12, 1974 to July 5, 1975. Its members included Garcia , Saunders , John Kahn , Martin Fierro and Paul Humphrey...
- 2006 - Well-Matched: The Best of Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia (Fantasy)
Solo, group leader or co-leader - singles
- 1968 - I Pity The Fool / Tighten Up (Galaxy 747)
- 1969 - Soul Grooving / Up Up and Away (Galaxy 755)
- 1970 - Iron Horse / Little Bit of Righteousness - with Heavy Turbulence (Galaxy 776)
- Julia/Five More (Fantasy 620)
- Save Mother Earth 1 & 2 (Fantasy 668)
- 1981 - San Francisco After Dark/Come To Me (Summertone 214)
Various artist compilations that include previously unreleased Merl Saunders music
- 1972 - Black Girl (Soundtrack) - Various Artists
- 1972 - Fritz The Cat (Soundtrack) - Various Artists
- 1973 - Heavy Traffic (Soundtrack) - Various Artists
- 1997 - Fire On The Mountain: Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead Volume 2 - Various Artists
- 1999 - The Third Annual Gathering on the Mountain - Various Artists
- 2000 - Gathering On The Mountain: Live Part 2 - Various Artists
- 2000 - Gathering On The Mountain: Live Part 3 - Various Artists
- 2000 - Sharin' In The Groove - Various Artists
- 2001 - Into The Music: Jam Band Vol. 1 - Various Artists
Various artist compilations that include previously released Merl Saunders tracks
- 1992 - All Night Long They Play The Blues - Various Artists
- 1995 - Bad, Bad Whiskey (The Galaxy Masters) - Various Artists
- 1995 - Jazz Collective - Various Artists
- 1995 - Sense Of Direction - Various Artists
- 1996 - Televisions Greatest Hits Vol. 6: Remote Control - Various Artists
- 1996 - Fritz The Cat/Heavy Traffic (Soundtrack) - Various Artists
Playing contributions to other major albums with others
- 1971 - Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses)Grateful Dead (album)Grateful Dead is the seventh album by the Grateful Dead, released in October 1971 on Warner Bros. Records, catalogue 2WS-1935. It is their second live double album, and also known generally by the names Skull and Roses and Skull Fuck Grateful Dead is the seventh album by the Grateful Dead,...
- Grateful Dead - 1971 - Danny Cox - Dany Cox
- 1972 - Tom Fogerty - Tom Fogerty
- 1972 - Steelyard Blues (Soundtrack) - Various Artists
- 1972 - Give It Up - Bonnie Raitt
- 1972 - Europe '72Europe '72Europe '72 is a 1972 live triple album of performances by the Grateful Dead, recorded during their tour of Western Europe in early 1972.-History:...
- Grateful Dead - 1972 - Excalibur - Tom Fogerty
- 1973 - Ooh So Good 'N' Blues - Taj Mahal
- 1973 - Betty Davis - Betty Davis
- 1973 - Moses - Jerry Hahn
- 1973 - Brenda Patterson - Brenda Patterson
- 1974 - Garcia (Compliments of Garcia)Compliments (Jerry Garcia album)Compliments, also known as Garcia, is Jerry Garcia's second solo album, released in 1974. It includes one newly-written song by John Kahn and Robert Hunter but is otherwise cover versions...
- 1974 - Mo' Roots - Taj Mahal
- 1975 - Is Having A Wonderful Time - Geoff Muldaur
- 1975 - Cesar 830 - Cesar Ascarrunz
- 1976 - David Soul - David Soul
- 1978 - Cats Under the StarsCats Under the StarsCats Under the Stars, released in 1978, is the first and only studio release under the name Jerry Garcia Band and Garcia's first album on the Arista label.Garcia, in the years before his death in 1995, considered this album to be his favorite....
- Jerry Garcia Band - 1982 - Run for the RosesRun for the Roses (album)Run for the Roses is a 1982 solo album by Jerry Garcia.-Track listing:#"Run For The Roses" #"I Saw Her Standing There" #"Without Love"...
- Jerry Garcia - 1984 - Amagamalin Street - Robert Hunter
- 1988 - Dinosaurs - Dinosaurs
- 1988 - Nightfood - Brian Melvin
- 1994 - Free Flight - Palomino Duck
- 1996 - Life Is Like That - Jerry Miller
- 1997 - DAVA - DAVA And The Peace Army
- 1998 - Ticket To Fly - Mike Lawson (Recorded in '94, Released on Sumertone Records, Lawson was the only other artist on Merl's label)
- 2000 - King Of The Highway - Norton Buffalo and The Knockouts
- 2000 - New Train - Paul Pena
- 2000 - Hoy Yen Ass'n - Tommy Guerrero and Gadget
- 2001 - The Golden Road (1965-1973)The Golden Road (1965-1973)The Golden Road is a twelve-CD boxed set retrospect of the Grateful Dead's studio and live albums during their time with Warner Bros. Records from 1965 to 1973. After 1973, the band went on to create its own label, Grateful Dead Records....
- Grateful Dead - 2001 - Gifts From The Dead - Various Artists
- 2002 - Remedy - Jim Weider Band
- 2002 - Rare - Five Point Plan
Playing contributions to singles with others
- 1972 - Lady Of Fatima / Cast The First Stone - Tom Fogerty (Fantasy F680)
- 1972 - Faces Places People / Forty Years - Tom Fogerty (Fantasy F691)
- 1972 - Drive Again (Theme from Steelyard Blues) / My Bag (The Oysters) - Gravenites/Bloomfield and others
- 1989 - Underground (EP) - Mike Lawson (Psychotronic Records)
Playing contributions to compilations
- 1975 - Sampler For Deadheads (#1 of 3) - Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
- 1975 - Sampler For Deadheads (#2 of 3) - Old And In The Way / Keith And Donna
- 1977 - What A Long Strange Trip It's Been - Grateful Dead
- 1978 - Grateful Dead Sampler - Various Artists
- 1978 - Arista AOR Sampler - Various Artists
- 1985 - The Relix Sampler - Various Artists
- 1998 - Tom Fogerty/Excalibur - Tom Fogerty
- 1999 - The Very Best Of Tom Fogerty - Tom Fogerty
- 2000 - Furthur Most - Various Artists
- 2000 - The Best Of David Soul - David Soul
- 2000 - Anti Love: The Best Of Betty Davis - Betty Davis
Non-performing references on albums
- 1975 - Keith and Donna Godchaux - Keith and Donna Godchaux
- 1976 - For Dead Heads - Various Artists
- 1998 - Blue Light Rain - Jazz Is Dead
Movies/DVDs
- Fritz the Cat (1972)
- Black Girl (1972)
- Heavy Traffic (1973)
- Steelyard Blues (1973)
- Headcandy: Sidney's Psychedelic Adventure (1997) Headcandy Productions
- A Tribute to Jerry Garcia: Deadheads Festival Japan 1997 (Japanese Laser Disc, Video Super Rock series VPLR-70650) (1997)
- Blues from the Rainforest: A Musical Suite (1999) Mobile Fidelity
- The Grateful Dead: The End of the Road - The Final Tour '95 (2000) Monterey Video
- Diggers (2006)
Television
- 34th Annual Grammy Awards (TV Special) - Production Coordinator
- 35th Annual Grammy Awards (TV Special) - Production Coordinator
- Grammy's Greatest Moments (TV Special) - Production Coordinator
- Vietnam: A Television History (TV Series) - Music Performer (11 episodes, 1997)
- The American Experience - Music Performer (6 episodes, 1997–2005)
- The New Twilight ZoneThe New Twilight ZoneThe Twilight Zone is the first of two revivals of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series of the same name. It ran for two seasons on CBS before producing a final season for syndication.-Series history:...
1985 (TV Series)- Music Performer & Musical Director (composer: new title theme) (72 episodes, 1985–1989) - Nash Bridges (TV series)
- Tales From The Crypt (TV series)
- Baywatch (TV series)
- Simon and Simon (TV series)