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Jerry Garcia Tribute

SPIRIT OF GARCIA

by Uncle John

There  is a rapport between Jerry Garcia, and the musicians playing with him,  and with their audience, that few other musicians share. A density of thought, richness of feeling, the eloquence of Robert Hunter’s lyrics and the power in the air created by the crispy sound of Garcia’s guitar – it literally crackles, snaps and pops at times. The way he paces the music & kicks! His delicate fingertips touches our hearts, minds and ears. Sometimes the pace is slow, other times the sound seems to float, luxuriously bathing us in ecstasy and excitement, transforming our consciousness like a pebble rolling down a hill, or bells ringing with the choir singing, and he smiles at us while playing his soft musical prayer, and rocks us with vibrations giving us a warm and unifying feeling. There’s magic there and we’re full of energy and all ears. We reach for the sky top as he mimics life, visualizing flourishing patterns, as his fingers fret like a skateboard up and down the guitar, bringing a harvest of music, like an artist taking abstract concepts to fill a canvas and create a picture. The crowd is always eager for new visions of ancient ideas & homespun wisdom, miniscule notes and giant sounds cresting and ebbing like the tides. Spontaneous motion fills the once cold barren space with warmth and direction. The band massages our senses and stimulates our imagination. The sea of faces listen in telepathic rapport and move in synchronicity. Distinguished and dignified, there is a blend and common bond of the simple & grand listening to the music of Jerry Garcia playin’ in the band.

The first time I am backstage with the Jerry Garcia Band, I’m sitting at the main round table next to John Kahn, who is erudite and interesting, as we have a conversation and I listen to him talk about memories, reflections, and dreams. My eyes are on Jerry Garcia watching him carry on a half dozen lively conversations at the same time. He is astutely following each one and contributes brilliant observations, upbeat, with a good deal of humor. We love to hear him laugh. I finally capture his attention with my eyes and interject a question, "Have you seen the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind?" I ask him, not realizing he had a cameo in the film. He immediately replies, "I´m not answering anymore questions until we find out who you are." There is suddenly silence in the room. And I introduce myself.

 "Uncle John"  

"That improves things considerably," Jerry Garcia responds, lifting his eyebrows with a twinkle, and smiles,   as the banter in the room resumes.

I ask Jerry Garcia,"What do they call you, by your first name or your last?"

Read his unique answer when my book is published next year.

LAST flash OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD

LASTFLASH.com

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"Where do I stand spiritually?

Oh God!!! (with laughter)

Somewhere between Jesus and the devil."

 --JERRY GARCIA

DAYS BETWEEN

Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World

 

STREET PERFORMERS


DEADPATCH

DAYS BETWEEN

- Mystery Rivers -

- Walking With Jerry -

- Jerry´s Eyes -

- Sing Me Back Home -

- Garcia´s Voice In The Sky -

- "I ain´t often right, but I never been wrong" -

- Dreaming With Jerry -

- Immortality -

MYSTERY RIVERS

by Uncle John

I am backstage one night after the show at Sophie´s in Palo Alto with the Jerry Garcia Band, and well into the morning, Jerry turns to me and asks me to play him a song. I pick up the Gibson SG; and Jerry Garcia, who knew that I write songs but am not a musician, said "Don´t plug it in, just play!" I play and sing a song I wrote, "Mystery Rivers", about the Garcia River in Mendocino county, California, & the Weir River in Hingham, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts.

EXCERPT

Verse 1

When moondrops that come from remembering

You looking into my eyes

When you come around again

To sing like a bluebird flies

When I walk beside your footsteps

That come from heaven by the sea

Playing on the promised guitar

In the back hills and under the trees

Like the wedding in the river

And the love it brings

Telepathy on the ledge and bridge

And the light in your eyes when you sing

Bridge 1

Somewhere in a California forest

Where a mystery river flows

There grows a magic mushroom

That knows what the birds know

Where the wind is going to go

 

 

Amazing true stories about The Grateful Dead in the forthcoming book

Quest For Human Completion

LAST FLASH OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD

by Uncle John

to be published  

                                                                                               Special ThanksTigerRose420

My Sisters and Brothers

 

Jerry Garcia Band

 

 “This world is not our home
We're only passing through
Our trail is all made up
Way beyond the blue

Let us do the very best that we can
While we're travelin' through this land
We can all be together, shakin' a hand
When we make it to the promised land

Let us walk together, little children
We don't ever have to worry
Through this world of trouble
We gotta love one another

Let us take our fellow man by the hand
Try to help him to understand
We can all be together, forever and ever
When we make it to the promised land

 

HEALINGS.stream