Former Grateful Dead keyboardist Saunders dies

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

SAN FRANCISCO – Merl Saunders, a jazz and rock keyboardist who collaborated with iconic acts including Miles Davis and the Grateful Dead, has died. He was 74.

Saunders died Friday at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco of complications due to a stroke, said his son, Merl Saunders Jr.

"We loved him very much — and we know that you, his fans, did too," his family said in a statement posted on Saunders' Web site. "He was a special man, a beautiful companion, father, grandfather, and family patriarch, and the proof of that spirit is in the way you've reached out to us at his passing."

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[DudeAsInCool]

[Redneck4sure]

The Grateful Dead were cool.

[Sifor]

The Grateful Dead are/were awesome. People from all walks of life could enjoy their music, and have a great time at their shows.

[DudeAsInCool]

Grateful Dead w/Merle Saunders - Playing With The Band (Live @ Winterland)

Grateful Dead w/Merle Saunders - Not Fade Away (Live @ The Oakland Colliseum)

Jerry Garcia and Merle Saunders

Merle Saunders - Live @ Franklin's Tower LIVE 3-17-1998

Merle Saunders & His Funky Friends 2-20-2000