Dear PrudenceJerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia

Jerome John “Jerry” Garcia was a psychedelic wizard with a hypnotizing presence born in San Francisco, California on August 1, 1942. Jerry is immortalized as a rock icon — The Grateful Dead was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and in 2003, Rolling Stone ranked him at #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time. Often seen as the frontman of The Grateful Dead, Jerry was their lead guitarist and lead singer on many original songs, though he refused to take credit as the role.

Garcia was inspired by various music, art, drugs, and literature. At age 15, he started playing guitar, but it wasn’t until Jerry narrowly survived a major car accident which changed his focus. He later cites it as a “slingshot for the rest of [his] life.” This revelation causes him to choose the guitar over his hobby of painting and drawing. His music also had a strong influence from bluegrass, as he had played banjo throughout his life and before he began to play guitar.

Despite noting few musical influences, Jerry liked Chuck Berry and Ray Charles amongst other Rhythm and Blues artists of the time.