Early Life and Education of Jerry Garcia: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Jerry Garcia. A timeline of key moments.

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

1919: Garcia family immigrated from Spain

In 1919, Jerry Garcia's father's extended family immigrated from Spain.

1937: Birth of Jerry Garcia's brother, Clifford Ramon

In 1937, Clifford Ramon "Tiff" Garcia, Jerry Garcia's older brother, was born. Shortly before Clifford's birth, their father and a partner leased a building in downtown San Francisco and turned it into a bar, partly in response to Jose being blackballed from a musicians' union for moonlighting.

August 1, 1942: Jerome John Garcia's birth

On August 1, 1942, Jerome John Garcia was born. He later became known as Jerry Garcia, the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead.

1946: Garcia's Finger Accident

In 1946, Jerry Garcia, at the age of four, had two-thirds of his right middle finger cut off in a wood splitting accident involving his brother.

1953: Garcia's Family Moved to Menlo Park

In 1953, Jerry Garcia's family moved to Menlo Park. That year, Garcia was also introduced to rock and roll and rhythm and blues by his brother, and enjoyed listening to Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, B. B. King, Hank Ballard, and, later, Chuck Berry.

1957: Garcia Introduced to Marijuana and Studies at San Francisco Art Institute

In mid-1957, Jerry Garcia began smoking cigarettes and was introduced to marijuana. During this time, Garcia also studied at what is now the San Francisco Art Institute. Hedrick also introduced Garcia to the fiction of Jack Kerouac, whom Garcia later cited as a major influence.

1958: Garcia attended Balboa High School

In 1958, Jerry Garcia attended tenth grade at Balboa High School, where he often got into trouble for skipping classes and fighting.

1959: Garcia's Family Moved to Cazadero

In 1959, Jerry Garcia's mother moved the family to Cazadero, a small town in Sonoma County. Garcia did, however, join a band at his school known as the Chords.

December 14, 1960: Garcia Given General Discharge from the U.S. Army

On December 14, 1960, Jerry Garcia was given a general discharge from the U.S. Army due to accruing many counts of being AWOL.

January 1961: Garcia Drove to East Palo Alto to See Laird Grant

In January 1961, Jerry Garcia drove to East Palo Alto to see Laird Grant, an old friend from middle school. He had purchased a 1950 Cadillac sedan from a cook in the army, which barely made it to Grant's residence before it broke down.

February 20, 1961: Garcia's Car Accident

On February 20, 1961, Jerry Garcia was involved in a car accident in which the driver encountered a curve and, speeding around 90 miles per hour (140 km/h), crashed into the guard rail, sending the car rolling turbulently. Garcia was hurled through the windshield of the car into a nearby field. Speegle, still in the car, was fatally injured.

April 23, 1963: Marriage to Sara Ruppenthal

On April 23, 1963, Jerry Garcia married Sara Ruppenthal.

1964: Garcia's First Use of LSD

Jerry Garcia first began using LSD in 1964; later, when asked how it changed his life, he remarked: "Well, it changed everything [...] the effect was that it freed me because I suddenly realized that my little attempt at having a straight life and doing that was really a fiction and just wasn't going to work out. Luckily I wasn't far enough into it for it to be shattering or anything; it was like a realization that just made me feel immensely relieved."

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".

1966: Carolyn Adams had a daughter with Ken Kesey.

In 1966, Carolyn Adams, also known as "Mountain Girl," had a daughter, Sunshine, with Ken Kesey.

October 2, 1967: 710 Ashbury Street Raided

On October 2, 1967, 710 Ashbury Street in San Francisco, where the Grateful Dead resided, was raided on marijuana charges.

1967: Divorce from Sara Ruppenthal

In 1967, Jerry Garcia and Sara Ruppenthal divorced.

1969: Gift of Stratocaster from Graham Nash

In 1969, Graham Nash gifted a 1955 natural finish Stratocaster to Jerry Garcia, which he would begin using in 1971.

January 1970: Grateful Dead Arrested in New Orleans

In January 1970, most of the Grateful Dead band was arrested in New Orleans on drug charges, except for Garcia, Tom Constanten, and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan.

February 2, 1970: Birth of daughter Annabelle Walker Garcia

On February 2, 1970, Carolyn Adams gave birth to Jerry Garcia's second daughter, Annabelle Walker Garcia.

August 1970: Mother's Car accident

In August 1970, Jerry Garcia's mother, Ruth, was involved in a car crash near Twin Peaks in San Francisco.

September 28, 1970: Death of his mother, Ruth

On September 28, 1970, Jerry Garcia's mother, Ruth, died following a car accident in August of the same year.

March 1973: Met Deborah Koons

In March 1973, Jerry Garcia met Deborah Koons at Long Island's Nassau Coliseum.

September 21, 1974: Birth of daughter Theresa Adams "Trixie" Garcia

On September 21, 1974, Carolyn Adams gave birth to Jerry Garcia's third daughter, Theresa Adams "Trixie" Garcia.

1974: Introduction to smokeable heroin

In 1974, during the Grateful Dead's European tour, Jerry Garcia was introduced to a smokeable form of heroin in a brothel.

1974: Began relationship with Deborah Koons

In mid-1974, Jerry Garcia began his relationship with Deborah Koons.

1975: Discovery of "Persian Base"

During the Grateful Dead's 1975 hiatus, Jerry Garcia was introduced to "Persian" or "Persian Base", a smokeable drug initially advertised as refined opium. Garcia's discovery of this drug occurred amidst the stress of creating 'The Grateful Dead Movie'.

1975: Garcia leaves Adams for Koons

In late 1975, Jerry Garcia left Carolyn Adams for Deborah Koons.

1977: Brief reconciliation with Carolyn Adams

In 1977, Jerry Garcia's relationship with Deborah Koons ended, leading to a brief reconciliation with Carolyn Adams.

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.

1978: Befriended Manasha Matheson

During the autumn of 1978, Jerry Garcia developed a friendship with Shimer College student Manasha Matheson.

1978: Adams moves to Eugene, Oregon

In 1978, Carolyn Adams moved with the children to the Eugene, Oregon area due to disagreements with Garcia's drug use.

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.

1980: Affair with Amy Moore begins

Circa 1980, Jerry Garcia began an affair with Amy Moore.

1981: Affair with Amy Moore ends

Circa 1981, Jerry Garcia's affair with Amy Moore ended. The affair inspired the Garcia-Hunter song "Run for the Roses."

December 31, 1981: Marriage to Carolyn Adams

On December 31, 1981, Jerry Garcia and Carolyn Adams were married.

1983: Decline in Onstage Demeanor

By 1983, Jerry Garcia's onstage demeanor had begun to change, marked by inconsistent performances and signs of disengagement. Years of heavy smoking had also affected his voice.

1984: Physical Decline During Performances

By 1984, Jerry Garcia would often rest his chin on the microphone during performances, indicating a continued physical decline as a result of financial risks, drug use, and poor business decisions.

1984: Dismissal of Rock Scully

In 1984, Rock Scully was dismissed by the Grateful Dead for enabling Garcia's addictions and embezzling the Garcia Band's profits.

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.

July 1986: Diabetic Coma

In July 1986, Jerry Garcia collapsed into a diabetic coma due to unhealthy weight, dehydration, bad eating habits, and a recent relapse. He woke up five days later and had to relearn how to play the guitar, as well as other basic skills.

1986: Diabetic Coma throwback

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

1986: Achieving Abstinence

By the spring of 1986, Jerry Garcia had achieved complete abstinence from drugs with the assistance of Nora Sage.

1986: Garcia's Diabetic Coma

In 1986, Jerry Garcia went into a diabetic coma and nearly died. He continued to struggle with health issues later in life.

December 20, 1987: Birth of daughter Keelin Noel Garcia

On December 20, 1987, Manasha Matheson gave birth to Jerry Garcia's daughter, Keelin Noel Garcia.

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.

August 17, 1990: Marriage to Manasha Matheson

On August 17, 1990, Jerry Garcia and Manasha Matheson married at their San Anselmo, California home in a spiritual ceremony.

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: Expressed delight in being a father

In 1991, Jerry Garcia expressed his delight in finding the time to "actually be a father" to Keelin.

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.

1991: Rolling Stone interview

In a 1991 Rolling Stone interview, Jerry Garcia stated that "we haven't really lived together since the Seventies" in reference to his wife Carolyn Adams.

1992: Recovery and Lifestyle Changes

In 1992, Manasha Garcia helped Jerry Garcia recover from an illness, organizing a team of health professionals. Garcia reduced smoking, started losing weight, and became a vegetarian.

January 1993: Re-entered by Brigid Meier

In January 1993, Barbara "Brigid" Meier, a former girlfriend from the early 1960s, reentered Jerry Garcia's life for a brief period.

1993: Renewed acquaintance with Deborah Koons

In the spring of 1993, Jerry Garcia renewed his acquaintance with Deborah Koons.

1993: Decline of Physical and Mental Condition

Throughout 1993, Jerry Garcia's physical and mental condition continued to decline.

February 14, 1994: Marriage to Deborah Koons

On February 14, 1994, Jerry Garcia married Deborah Koons in Sausalito, California.

1994: Divorce from Carolyn Adams

In 1994, Jerry Garcia and Carolyn Adams divorced.

1994: Decline of Physical and Mental Condition

In 1994, Jerry Garcia's physical and mental condition continued to decline.

July 1995: Checking into Betty Ford Center and Death

In July 1995, Jerry Garcia checked into the Betty Ford Center for a limited stay. Motivated by this, he then checked into the Serenity Knolls treatment center, where he ultimately died.

1995: Koons, Meier, and Ruppenthal Claim

At Jerry Garcia's 1995 funeral, Deborah Koons declared that she was "the love of his life" while paying her final respects, whereupon Meier and Ruppenthal, who were both in attendance, simultaneously exclaimed, "He said that to me!"