Patchoulia Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Just heard Merle Saunders died today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchoulia Posted October 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 damn. I was just thinking about him the other week wondering how his condition was. I know somebody who was close friends with him. I'll have to email him and send my condolences. Sad I'm going to put some Merl on now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?storyID=15521 Merl Saunders Washington :: 02/14/34 - 10/24/08 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 in Germany. Saunders married Betty Crenshaw and leaves behind three children (Anthony Saunders, Merl Saunders Jr., Susan Saunders) and a number of grand kids. Saunders became one of the preeminent Hammond B-3 player of his generation; beginning his long strange trip by apprenticing with the great Jimmy Smith. In 1970 Saunders began playing with Jerry Garcia in the Bay Area under bands called Legion of Mary and then Garcia/Saunders. The duo recorded a number of famous albums including Heavy Turbulence, Fire Up, and Live at the Keystone. Their 1990 collaboration, Blues from the Rainforest, was a Billboard Top 10 in the New Age category. Saunders contributed to the Grateful Dead album Grateful Dead (1971), and in the mid-1980s worked with the band as musical director for the "Twilight Zone" television show. He became known as the senior member of the jam band scene having played with Phish, Blues Traveler and Widespread Panic. He was instrumental in allowing young talent to play and record with him, giving first opportunity to the likes of Sheila E, Chris Hayes (Huey Lewis & the News), Bonnie Hayes (Billy Idol) and Bob Steeler (Hot Tuna). In parallel to his rock career, Saunders worked as a jazz trio player, performing and recording with Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, and Paul Butterfield. He also contributed to the scores of the films "Heavy Traffic" and "Fritz the Cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchoulia Posted October 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I had met him and hung out with him more than once over the years...an amazing, fantastic & talented guy. I'm very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchoulia Posted October 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Damn..thought I had a Legion of Mary show at work, but I don't..gotta find some to stream! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 http://www.imeem.com/tag/?q=artist%3aMerl+Saunders+%26+Friends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamilton Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 R.I.P. Merl. Thanks for the memories, and the tunes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewRider Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 R.I.P. Merl, thanks for all the great times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffhead77 Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 shitty news... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForbinHood Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Very shitty news. Another wonderful man joins the great jam session in the sky. R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingbear Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 (edited) thanks for the music. Edited October 24, 2008 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Huxtable Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Oh man, that's too bad. RIP Merl. Thanks for the awesome music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchoulia Posted October 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I always loved this pic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I am going to blast my Keystone cd's tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phunkyb Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 RIP Merl!I have some amazing early memories of seeing Merl play at the Comfort Zone and Forest Hill Collegiate. Even had wings with him at St. Louis once.He toured with One Step Beyond."Feels Like Dynamite"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 RIP Merl!I have some amazing early memories of seeing Merl play at the Comfort Zone and Forest Hill Collegiate. LOL ... i was at the show AFTER that Forest Hill gig. He played Rock and Roll Heaven that night and the show didn't start until almost midnight! Not many people left when he came on. He apologized and did a great gig. Supposedly when they booked it, they thought it was a COLLEGE and not a high school dance Kimmock was on guitar with him on that run. I had a killer sbd tape of that show (my buddy was running sbd for Days Of You who opened that night IIRC). He worked in a Santa Clause is Coming To Town Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elemeno Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 RIP Merl.say hello to the fat man for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanada Kev Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10806195Keyboardist Merl Saunders, who collaborated with Jerry Garcia, dies at 74By Paul LiberatoreArticle Launched: 10/24/2008 10:03:37 AM AKDTMerl Saunders, a keyboardist who collaborated with Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia in the 1970s and went on to earn the title of "the godfather of jam bands," died Friday morning at Kaiser hospital in San Francisco of complications from a stroke. He was 74.Mr. Saunders, who was born in San Mateo and grew up in San Francisco, is best remembered for his partnership with Garcia, playing legendary club dates as "Legion of Mary" and then as "Garcia/Saunders," and recording the albums "Heavy Turbulence," "Fire Up" and "Live at the Keystone."He was a guest player on the 1971 album "Grateful Dead," and served as musical director with the band on the "Twilight Zone" television show in the mid-1980s.Mr. Saunders apprenticed with the famed organist Jimmy Smith and is credited with teaching the great American songbook to the rock- and folk-oriented Garcia."Blues from the Rainforest," their 1990 collaboration, hit the Billboard Top 10 in the New Age category.In recent years, Mr. Saunders was revered as the senior member of the jamband world, playing with Phish, Blues Traveler and Widespread Panic.After suffering a stroke six years ago, he lost the use of one of his hands and his ability to speak, but remained a vibrant presence on the Bay Area music scene."Boy, did he get the most out of what he had left," said Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.He is survived by two sons, Anthony Saunders and Merl Saunders Jr., and a daughter, Susan Saunders.Memorial services have not been announced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briguy Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balogna pogna Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Very sad news indeed. I feel lucky that I had the chance to see Merl so many times over the years (and meet and party with him and One Step on one occasion).RIP and thanks for all the smiles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchoulia Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Very sad news indeed. I feel lucky that I had the chance to see Merl so many times over the years (and meet and party with him and One Step on one occasion).RIP and thanks for all the smiles.Ditto...I just posted virtually this same msg to another board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elemeno Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 sorry for eating your sanmiches and drinking your beer in detroit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nattyMatty Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 BUMMERRRRRRRRR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shainhouse Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Amazing man. I booked a gig for him once. RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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