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Jerome John "Jerry" García (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was famous as the lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead; however, his extensive career involved many other projects. Named after composer Jerome Kern, Garcia started on the banjo and piano, moved onto the guitar, and eventually became a master on many stringed instruments, despite the accidental amputation —by his brother Clifford ("Tiff")—of his right middle finger just below the first knuckle at age four, while Tiff was chopping wood.
Early years
García was born in Oakland, California, United States. Though he had a keen and insightful mind, García dropped out of Balboa High School and enlisted in the United States Army on April 12, 1960. After completing Basic Training and Service School Training as an auto maintenance helper, at Fort Ord California, García was stationed at Fort Winfield in San Francisco's Presidio. García was still spending his hours at his leisure, picking up the acoustic guitar. The rigors and the structure of Army life did not appeal to him and he was discharged on December 14, 1960, after accruing two courts martial and eight AWOLs. After his discharge García and a poet named Robert Hunter teamed up to make music—later on, Hunter would become the main lyricist for the Grateful Dead. Around this time García was playing and teaching acoustic guitar and banjo (his other great instrumental love), and up to 1964 he sang and performed mainly bluegrass, old-time and folk music. Garcia joined a local bluegrass and folk band called Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, whose membership also included Bob Weir and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. In 1965, this group evolved into the Warlocks—which would in turn become the Grateful Dead later that year—and Garcia picked up the electric guitar.
Career with the Grateful Dead
More on [ Jerry García ]
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JerryGarcia.com - A site created entirely from the art of Jerry Garcia.
Meta Description: [ The official, authorized Jerry Garcia web site ]
A Nation Remembers Garcia - Information about the memorial in Golden Gate Park.
All Music Guide: Jerry Garcia - Includes biography, discography, and reviews.
Garcia: An American Life - Biography by Blair Jackson, publisher of The Golden Road the Grateful Dead magazine. Also a critical discography.
In Memoriam - Jerry Garcia - Messages from friends and fans, as well as links.
Information about Jerry - A few links and information, as well as personal memories.
Jerry's Will - Official will of Jerry Garcia, from Court TV.
Rollingstone.com: Jerry Garcia - Includes a biography, articles and message board.
Meta Description: [ Rolling Stone gives you total Jerry Garcia coverage including free music, videos, photos, music news and exclusive Rolling Stone articles. ]
The Jerry Site - Resource for setlists from Garcia's non-Grateful Dead work.
Tributes for Jerry from WELL Deadheads - WELL posts reposted from the Grateful Dead Conference with permission from their authors.
We'll always remember: Jerry Garcia - Tribute to Jerry with biography and discography.
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