Grateful Dead (Musical group)

After Jerry Garcia formed the Grateful Dead in the mid '60s, Hunter wrote most of the lyrics for Garcia's songs, including "Truckin'" and "Uncle John's Band." Hunter spoke to Fresh Air in 1988.

Dennis McNally is the publicist for the Grateful Dead, and the band's official historian. He's also the author of the new book, A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead. He is also author of the book, Desolate Angel: Jack Kerouac, the Beat Generation.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews the new Grateful Dead box set.

Critic Milo Miles recently attended the Further Festival near Boston, a reunion of Grateful Dead band members, their colleagues and their fans. He has these thoughts.

Joel Selvin, the Rock Critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, talks with Fresh Air Producer Amy Salit about the life of Grateful Dead band leader Jerry Garcia. Marin County officials in California say Garcia died early this morning of apparently natural causes. He was 53.

Fresh Air producer Amy Salit talks with Grateful Dead drummer, Mickey Hart. Hart's also long been involved with the drumming traditions of other cultures. Hart has a new book called "Drumming At the Edge," and a CD called "At the Edge."

Percussionist Mickey Hart. He's best known as a member of rock group The Grateful Dead. But Hart is also an avid collector of percussion instruments and recordings in native settings. Hart has spent the last 18 years traveling the world in his search. His collection ranges from the dance music of American Indians to Eskimo throat singers and Solomon Islands water slapping. Highlights of his field recordings have just been released in a series titled "The World." (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast on Wednesday, May 17, 1989.)

Mickey Hart says his travels around the globe with the Grateful Dead have given him the chance to meet several accomplished musicians from non-Western cultures. He's produced several recordings of their performance, many of which have been released on the Rykodisc label.

Musician Robert Hunter collaborated with Jerry Garcia to write lyrics for many of the band's best known songs. He admits that some of his lyrics are "Joycean word salad" inspired by his LSD trips. Hunter has a new album of his own music, called Liberty.

Lyricist and songwriter Robert Hunter. He's best known for his 28-year collaboration with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, writing the lyrics to the classics "Uncle John's Band" and "Truckin," and the recent hit "Touch of Grey." He has a new solo album titled "Liberty."