Career Timeline of Jerry Garcia: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jerry Garcia made an impact.

Jerry Garcia was an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, a band he co-founded and that became a symbol of the 1960s counterculture. Though he resisted the title, Garcia was widely regarded as the band's leader. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the Grateful Dead, solidifying his legacy as a pivotal figure in rock music history.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1955: Acquisition of 1955 Stratocaster

In May of 1971, Jerry Garcia began using a 1955 natural finish Stratocaster that had been given to him by Graham Nash in 1969.

April 1961: Garcia Met Robert Hunter

In April 1961, Jerry Garcia first met Robert Hunter, who would become a long-time friend of and lyricist for the Grateful Dead. Garcia performed his first concert with Hunter, each earning five dollars.

1962: Garcia Sang and Performed Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Folk Music

Between 1962 and 1964, Jerry Garcia sang and performed mainly bluegrass, old-time, and folk music.

1962: Garcia Met Phil Lesh and Recorded KPFA Special

In 1962, Jerry Garcia met Phil Lesh, the eventual bassist of the Grateful Dead. They recorded "Matty Groves" and "The Long Black Veil", among several other tunes. The recordings became a central feature of a 90-minute KPFA special broadcast, "The Long Black Veil and Other Ballads: An Evening with Jerry Garcia".

1963: Garcia Teaches Bob Matthews and Meets Bob Weir

In 1963, Bob Matthews introduced Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia on New Year's Eve. One of Garcia's students was Bob Matthews, who later engineered many of the Grateful Dead's albums.

1965: Start of Grateful Dead's Constant Touring

From their formation in 1965, Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead toured almost constantly.

1965: Start of Garcia's 30-year career with Grateful Dead

In 1965, Jerry Garcia began his 30-year career with the Grateful Dead, a band he co-founded.

1965: Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions Evolved into the Warlocks and then Grateful Dead

In 1965, Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions evolved into the Warlocks, with the addition of Dana Morgan, Jr. (soon replaced by Phil Lesh) on bass guitar and Bill Kreutzmann on percussion. However, the band discovered a record by another group (possibly the future Velvet Underground or Z.Z. Top, both of which used the name in their early days) called The Warlocks. In response, Garcia came up with "Grateful Dead" by opening a Funk & Wagnalls dictionary to an entry for "Grateful dead".

1965: Use of Guild Starfire

In 1965, while playing with the Warlocks, Jerry Garcia used a Guild Starfire guitar, which he also used on the debut album of the Grateful Dead.

1967: Use of Gibson Les Paul Guitars

Beginning in late 1967, Jerry Garcia played black or gold mid-1950s Gibson Les Paul guitars with P-90 pickups.

1967: Garcia as 'spiritual advisor' for Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow

In mid-1967, Jerry Garcia was listed as the "spiritual advisor" for Jefferson Airplane's album, Surrealistic Pillow. Garcia played the high lead on "Today," and also played on "Plastic Fantastic Lover" and "Comin' Back to Me" on that album.

1968: Use of Gibson Les Paul Guitars

Jerry Garcia continued to play black or gold mid-1950s Gibson Les Paul guitars with P-90 pickups in 1968.

1969: Start of Pedal Steel Flirtation

Around 1969, Jerry Garcia began his "pedal steel flirtation period," initially playing a Fender instrument.

1969: Joined New Riders of the Purple Sage

In 1969, Jerry Garcia began playing pedal steel guitar for fellow-San Francisco musicians New Riders of the Purple Sage from their initial dates.

1969: Adoption of Gibson SG and Fender Stratocaster

In 1969, Jerry Garcia picked up the Gibson SG and used it for most of the year and 1970, except for a short period where he used a sunburst Fender Stratocaster.

Epiphone SG Special Electric Guitar, Cherry

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1969: Pedal Steel on Jefferson Airplane's Volunteers

In 1969, Jerry Garcia played pedal steel on the track "The Farm" on the Jefferson Airplane album 'Volunteers', and the track "Oh Mommy" by Brewer and Shipley.

1970: Contributed to Brewer & Shipley's album Tarkio

In 1970, Jerry Garcia contributed pedal steel guitar to Brewer & Shipley's album Tarkio.

1970: Participation in the Zabriskie Point soundtrack

In 1970, Jerry Garcia participated in the soundtrack for the film Zabriskie Point.

1970: Pedal Steel on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Déjà Vu

In 1970, Jerry Garcia played pedal steel on the hit single "Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from their album 'Déjà Vu'.

1970: Use of Gibson SG

In 1970, Jerry Garcia primarily used the Gibson SG, except for a small period where he used a sunburst Fender Stratocaster.

Epiphone SG Special Electric Guitar, Cherry

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April 1971: Appearance at Fillmore East with Emmons D-10

In April 1971, Jerry Garcia employed an Emmons D-10 at the Grateful Dead's and New Riders of the Purple Sage's final appearances at the Fillmore East.

April 1971: Playing the Peanut guitar

In March and April 1971, Jerry Garcia played the "Peanut" guitar during the recording of the Grateful Dead's second live album, Grateful Dead.

1972: Purchase of Alembic Guitar

In late 1972, Jerry Garcia purchased the first guitar made by Alembic luthier Doug Irwin for $850.

1972: Brief Reversion to Sunburst Stratocaster

In the summer of 1972, while Alligator was in the shop, Jerry Garcia briefly reverted to the sunburst Stratocaster. This can be seen in Sunshine Daydream.

1972: End of Pedal Steel Flirtation

Jerry Garcia's "pedal steel flirtation period" ended around 1972.

May 1973: Delivery of Wolf Guitar

In May 1973, Jerry Garcia received the "Wolf" guitar from Doug Irwin, replacing Alligator on stage in September.

August 1973: End of Alligator Use

The "Alligator", a Stratocaster with an alligator sticker added in the fall of 1971, remained Jerry Garcia's principal electric guitar until August 1973.

1973: Use of McIntosh MC 2300 Amplifier

In 1973, Jerry Garcia began using a specific McIntosh MC 2300 amplifier.

1974: Wolf Dropped During European Tour

During the Grateful Dead's 1974 European tour, the "Wolf" guitar was dropped on several occasions, causing a minor crack in the headstock.

1974: Produced Home, Home on the Road for New Riders of the Purple Sage

In 1974, Jerry Garcia produced the live album Home, Home on the Road by New Riders of the Purple Sage.

1974: Budweiser Budman Sticker on Amplifier

In 1974, Jerry Garcia's McIntosh MC 2300 amplifier was christened with a Budweiser Budman sticker, making it a unique identifier.

1975: Playing Travis Bean Guitars

In 1975, Jerry Garcia played several Travis Bean guitars, including the TB1000A.

1976: Playing Travis Bean Guitars

From 1976 to 1977, Jerry Garcia played several Travis Bean guitars, including the TB500.

September 28, 1977: Return of Refurbished Wolf Guitar

On September 28, 1977, Irwin delivered the refurbished "Wolf" guitar back to Jerry Garcia. The wolf sticker was now inlaid into the instrument and featured an effects loop.

1978: Deterioration of Band Chemistry

By 1978, the Grateful Dead's chemistry began "cracking and crumbling" due to drug and alcohol abuse, leading to poor group cohesion.

February 1979: Departure of Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux

In February 1979, Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux left the Grateful Dead because the band's chemistry had begun to deteriorate.

August 4, 1979: First concert use of "Tiger" guitar

On August 4, 1979, Jerry Garcia first played his custom guitar "Tiger" in concert with the Grateful Dead at the Oakland Auditorium Arena. The guitar was named for the tiger inlay on the preamp cover.

January 1985: Intervention and Arrest for Drug Possession

In January 1985, Jerry Garcia's bandmates held an intervention due to his decade-long heroin addiction. On January 19, 1985, before starting a rehabilitation program, Garcia was arrested for drug possession in Golden Gate Park.

1986: Diabetic Coma throwback

After returning from the band's 1992 summer tour, Garcia became sick, a throwback to his diabetic coma in 1986.

1987: Return to pedal steel guitar with Bob Dylan

After a long lapse from playing the pedal steel, Jerry Garcia played it once more during several of the Dead's concerts with Bob Dylan in the summer of 1987.

1987: Release of 'In the Dark' and Band Revival

In 1987, after Jerry Garcia's recovery, the Grateful Dead released 'In the Dark', which became their best-selling studio album. The band's energy and chemistry reached a new peak due to Garcia's improved health.

1988: Appearance on Ornette Coleman's album Virgin Beauty

In 1988, Jerry Garcia appeared on saxophonist Ornette Coleman's album, "Virgin Beauty".

1988: Performance at the "Soviet American Peace Walk" concert

In 1988, Jerry Garcia performed at several major benefits, including the "Soviet American Peace Walk" concert in San Francisco, drawing 25,000 people. He also played at a benefit for Vietnam Veteran Brian Willson.

1989: Representation by the Weir Gallery

From 1989 Jerry Garcia's artistic endeavors were represented by the Weir Gallery in Berkeley, California.

July 1990: Brent Mydland's Death

In July 1990, Brent Mydland died of a speedball overdose, deeply affecting Jerry Garcia, who believed the band's chemistry would never be the same.

1990: Irwin completes "Rosebud"

In 1990, Doug Irwin completed "Rosebud", Jerry Garcia's fourth custom guitar, featuring different inlays and electronics from "Tiger". Rosebud had three humbuckers, a Roland GK-2 pickup, and was used with a Roland GR-50 rack mount synthesizer and a Korg M1R synthesizer during live performances.

Roland US-20 GK-2A GK-3 Unit Selector Pedal

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1990: First solo art show

In 1990, Roberta Weir sponsored Jerry Garcia's first solo art show at the Weir Gallery in Berkeley, California.

1991: Concerns About Band's Future and Relapse

In 1991, Jerry Garcia was concerned with the Grateful Dead's future due to exhaustion from touring. He relapsed into heroin use, prompting another intervention from the band.

1993: Replacement of Budman Amplifier

In 1993, Jerry Garcia's "Budman" amp, which was one of the only components from the Wall of Sound to remain in use, was replaced with a cab simulation system.

1993: Cripe gifts "Lightning Bolt" guitar

In 1993, Stephen Cripe gifted Jerry Garcia the "Lightning Bolt" guitar, named for its inlay. Garcia began using the guitar exclusively and hired Gary Brawer to reconfigure the pickups and make it MIDI-compatible.

1993: Garcia Interview with Rolling Stone

In a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone, Jerry Garcia noted that his own preferences are for improvisation, for making it up as he goes along.

1994: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 1994, Jerry Garcia was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead.

April 1995: Cripe delivers "Top Hat" guitar

In April 1995, Stephen Cripe delivered the backup guitar "Top Hat" to Jerry Garcia, who bought it for $6,500. However, Garcia rarely used it, preferring the "Lightning Bolt" guitar.

July 9, 1995: "Box of Rain" played with "Tiger"

On July 9, 1995, during his final performance with the Grateful Dead at Chicago's Soldier Field, Jerry Garcia played "Box of Rain" with his Tiger guitar.

1995: Last studio collaboration on Sanjay Mishra's Blue Incantation

In 1995, Jerry Garcia played on three tracks for the CD Blue Incantation by guitarist Sanjay Mishra, marking his last studio collaboration.

1995: End of Garcia's 30-year career with Grateful Dead

In 1995, Jerry Garcia's 30-year career with the Grateful Dead came to an end.

1995: End of Grateful Dead's Constant Touring

Jerry Garcia and the band toured almost constantly from their formation in 1965 until Garcia's death in 1995.

1996: End of representation by the Weir Gallery

In 1996, Jerry Garcia's artistic endeavors ended their representation by the Weir Gallery in Berkeley, California.

2015: The Jerry Garcia Foundation launched

In 2015, Jerry Garcia's wife, Manasha Garcia, and their daughter, Keelin Garcia, launched The Jerry Garcia Foundation, a nonprofit charity that supports projects for artistic, environmental, and humanitarian causes.

May 2017: Auction of Wolf guitar for charity

In May 2017, the Wolf guitar was auctioned again, this time for charity. Daniel Pritzker donated all proceeds to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Brian Halligan placed the winning bid totaling $1.9 million.