Anna Paulson
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Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead were pioneers and giants of the psychedelic rock genre. Their laid-back and trippy jam-band style catapulted the band onto a long, strange musical trip that spanned over three decades.
The work of Jerry Garcia, the lead songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for The Grateful Dead, was pivotal to the band’s sound. Like his band, Jerry outlived many of his contemporaries and had a long musical career before passing in 1995.
What caused Jerry Garcia’s death? How did Jerry Garcia die? Find out below.
How Did Jerry Garcia Die?
Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack at the age of 53. According to the L.A. Times, The Grateful Dead frontman passed away at a drug rehabilitation facility in Novato, California.
Garcia had long struggled with heroin addiction and had checked himself into the facility to try to kick the habit again.
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When Did Jerry Garcia Die?
Though he was undergoing treatment, drug abuse had taken its toll on Garcia. He was found dead in his room at 4:23 am on August 9 1995.
How Was Jerry Garcia Found Dead?
Garcia was found by a staff member at the facility, in his room, in the early hours of the morning. Garcia was unconscious and not breathing at 4:23 am. Despite attempts to revive him, Garcia was declared dead.
Jerry Garcia’s Last Words
Garcia was found in his room after a heart attack, so his exact last words will never be known.
However, Grateful Dead bandmate Bob Weir recalls the last words the two ever exchanged.
Walking off stage after the final night of their tour on July 9, 1995, Garcia turned to Weir and said, “Always a hoot.” He died exactly one month later.
What Was Jerry Garcia Worth When He Died?
When Jerry Garcia died in 1995, he had a net worth of about $15 million. Adjusting for inflation means Jerry Garcia’s net worth would be about $25 million today.
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Where Is Jerry Garcia Buried?
After his death, Garcia’s family had his body cremated. They then chose to scatter his ashes in two places special to Jerry.
The first of these was in San Francisco. The family scattered half his ashes underneath the Golden Gate bridge.
The second was the Ganges River in India, where his ashes were scattered into the river after a lunar eclipse.
How Old Would Jerry Garcia Be Today?
If Jerry Garcia had not died in 1995, he would be 81 years old in 2023.
How Many Members Of The Grateful Dead Have Died?
To date, seven members of The Grateful Dead have died.
We already covered Jerry Garcia’s death on August 9, 1995. However, several other members have also passed on.
Robert Hunter died on September 23, 2019. He had suffered major complications following a spinal surgery to remove a spinal cord abscess. Hunter died in his home.
Ron “PigPen” McKernan died on March 8, 1973 of a massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Keith Godchaux died on July 23, 1980 after sustaining severe head injuries in a car accident on the way home from his birthday party.
Other members of the Grateful Dead who have died are Brent Myland, Vince Welnick, and John Perry Barlow.
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Jerry Garcia’s Career with the Grateful Dead
Jerry Garcia is primarily known for his time with the Grateful Dead from their inception in 1965 until his death in 1994.
The Grateful Dead released their first self-titled debut album in 1967. They’d continue releasing albums through the decades, with 1990’s Without a Net being their final studio effort.
The band was more known for their marathon live shows than their studio albums, though. They only had one top 40 Billboard hit, “Touch of Grey,” which featured a memorable video.
Other iconic Grateful Dead songs include “Casey Jones,” “Terrapin Station,” and “Truckin.'” Experimental Anthem of the Sun (1968) and 1970’s American Beauty are generally considered their best albums.
Other famous members of the Grateful Dead include Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and lyricist Robert Hunter (R.I.P.).
Jerry Garcia’s Career Outside the Grateful Dead
Though he’s mostly known for his time with the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia played in many other bands throughout his illustrious career.
He had a side project with longtime friend Merl Saunders, appropriately called the Saunders-Garcia Band.
On the bluegrass side of things, he was a part of Old and in the Way with fiddle legend Vassar Clements.
He also had a major part in the formation of the New Riders of the Purple Sage, which began as a vehicle for the songwriting of Dead friend John Dawson. Garcia played pedal steel on their first album.
Garcia’s solo career also had its share of memorable moments, including albums like 1978’s Cats Under the Stars and a self-titled album in 1991. This was one of the last releases before Jerry Garcia’s death.
Jerry Garcia’s Spouse
Garcia was married several times in his life.
His first wedding was to Sara Ruppenthal Garcia. Sara worked at a coffeehouse that The Grateful Dead would regularly play, throwing the two together.
The couple would marry on April 23, 1963 and had a daughter named Heather together on December 8, 1963.
However, during his first marriage, The Grateful Dead frontman met Carolyn Adams. His relationship with Carolyn resulted in his divorce from Ruppenthal-Garcia in 1967.
Carolyn Adams later had two children with Jerry Garcia.
Adams and Garcia would split in 1994.
In 1987, during The Grateful Dead’s spring tour, Garcia started a romantic relationship with longtime friend Manasha Matheson.
Manasha gave birth to their child on December 20, 1987. The two would later marry on August 17, 1990.
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