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Merl Saunders

Merl Saunders Hammond B3 player Merl Saunders has recorded with numerous renowned artists since the early '70s and has led many of his own dates in a variety of genres from jazz to blues to new age to rock. Born on Valentine's Day, 1934 in San Mateo, CA, Saunders began learning to play the piano at the age of 10. He was a classmate and bandmate of Johnny Mathis through junior high school. Saunders decided on music as a profession after seeing how much fun was had by audience and performers alike at concerts by such musicians as Cab Calloway. He apprenticed early on with Jimmy Smith for a time, and attended various music schools.

Starting in the 1960s, Saunders collaborated on and off with Jerry Garcia, and the Grateful Dead. He also began working as a jazz keyboardist in the early '70s, and since has performed and recorded with Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt and Paul Butterfield. One of his several albums with Jerry Garcia, Blues From the Rainforest, hit the Top 5 of the U.S. Billboard New Age charts in the early '90s.

Saunders runs his own label, Sumertone, which includes much of his catalogue, as does the Fantasy label. In 1998, Saunders released his 20th album as a leader, Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends: Live! (Sumertone), which includes guests Garcia, John Popper (of Blues Travelers) and Trey Anastasio (of Phish). In addition to his active touring schedule, the San Franciscan has also written scores for TV and movies, including Tales From The Crypt, Twilight Zone, Heavy Traffic and Fritz The Cat.

In early 2000, Merl Saunders became the first recipient of the lifetime activist award from a Florida environmentalist group for his environmental activism that goes beyond just the titles of albums like Save the Planet So We'll Have Someplace to Boogie and Blues from the Rainforest. Later that fall, Saunders released Struggling Man.

In 2002 Merl suffered a stroke and has been recovering with the help of family and friends.

Merl Saunders passed away this morning, October 24, 2008 from complications related to the stroke which he suffered in 2002. The family appreciates all the well wishes.

Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses)

Read "Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses)" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
July 24, 2021

Grateful Dead, the second album of concert recordings released by the iconic band for Warner Brothers Records, resides squarely in the sweet spot between the expansive likes of its corollary, Live Dead (Warner Bros., 1969) and the economical studio recordings this group issued in between, Workingman's Dead (Warner Bros., 1970) and American Beauty (Warner Bros., 1970). Likewise, this 50th Anniversary Edition not only expands upon the original title, appearing remastered by engineer David Glasser to great effect (more full and ...

Recording

"Keystone Companions/The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings" By Merl Saunders And Jerry Garcia In Four-cd Set From Fantasy Records

Source: conqueroo
August 1, 2012

Deluxe four-CD box set, due September 25th, contains vintage photos, extensive liner notes and memorabilia Double vinyl LP reissue of the very first Saunders/Garcia album. Live at Keystone due to be released concurrently. BERKELEY, Calif. — Keystone Companions/The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings, recorded live on July 10 and 11, 1973 at the Keystone club in Berkeley, California, beautifully captures the magical musical friendship of keyboardist Merl Saunders and guitarist Jerry Garcia. The Fantasy Records lavish four-disc set, scheduled for September ...
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301

Event

Remembering Merl Saunders 02/14 Great American/SF

Source: JamBase
February 7, 2009

By: Joy Bashew Rosenberg

Remembering Merl Saunders February 14, 1934 - October 24, 2008

Merl Saunders by Bob Minkin I never saw organ and keyboard player Merl Saunders perform live, but I remember the first time I heard him on a clock radio in my suburban New Jersey bedroom, during a Philadelphia-broadcast “Grateful Dead Hour" in 1997. Cushioned between an Ominous Seapods tune and a snippet of ...
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213

Obituary

Star Keyboardist Merl Saunders Dies

Source: All About Jazz
October 25, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO -- Keyboardist Merl Saunders, the gentle lion of the San Francisco music scene best known as co-captain of guitarist Jerry Garcia's solo excursions outside the Grateful Dead, died Friday at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center after fighting infections. The 74-year-old musician suffered a debilitating stroke 6 1/2 years ago and, although he lost the ability to speak, he made numerous sentimental guest appearances at shows over those years playing with one hand. “I never met anybody so happy who ...
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145

Obituary

Merl Saunders: 2/14/34-10/24/08

Source: JamBase
October 25, 2008

Merl Saunders Washington :: 02/14/34 - 10/24/08

Merl Saunders by Bob Minkin Merl Saunders was born Merl Saunders Washington (he dropped the “Washington" for show biz purposes) in San Mateo, California on February 14, 1934; he passed away early this morning (October 24, 2008) at Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco.

Saunders grew up in San Francisco and was a proficient piano player by age 10. He attended Polytechnic High School, Served in the Air Force and Attended University of Mainz ...
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