Jerry Garcia: 1942-1995: Musician Biography - Traded In Accordion For Guitar, Developed Love Of Folk Music, Settled In San Francisco, Life With The Grateful Dead

Jerry Garcia: 1942-1995: Musician.

When Jerry Garcia died on August 9, 1995, at the age of 53, there was an outpouring of grief from longtime fans of the Grateful Dead. David Gates wrote in Newsweek, "If Garcia didn't get his threescore and ten, he still made more music, touched more hearts and lifted more spirits than seemed humanly possible." Although the band had never won mainstream success, a hardcore following known as "Deadheads" helped to make the group one of the top ten grossing concert bands during the late 1980s and early 1990s. While many fans referred to Garcia as the band's leader, he continually dismissed his leadership role.