Merl Saunders (sometimes spelled Merle), born February 14, 1934 in San Mateo, California, and died October 24, 2008, was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B3 organ. Musical career In the 1970s, Saunders began collaborating with Jerry Garcia, with the Grateful Dead and with Garcia's bands The Legion of Mary and Reconstruction. He's led his own bands, as Merl Saunders and Friends, playing live dates with Garcia, as well as Mike Bloomfield, David Grisman, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn and Sheila E. In 1990 he released the world music and New Age classic album Blues From the Rainforest, a collaboration with Jerry Garcia and Muruga Booker. ...show more

Merl Saunders (sometimes spelled Merle), born February 14, 1934 in San Mateo, California, and died October 24, 2008, was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B3 organ. Musical career In the 1970s, Saunders began collaborating with Jerry Garcia, with the Grateful Dead and with Garcia's bands The Legion of Mary and Reconstruction. He's led his own bands, as Merl Saunders and Friends, playing live dates with Garcia, as well as Mike Bloomfield, David Grisman, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn and Sheila E. In 1990 he released the world music and New Age classic album Blues From the Rainforest, a collaboration with Jerry Garcia and Muruga Booker.

This led to the release of a video which chronicled Saunders' journey to the Amazon, and the subsequent album Fiesta Amazonica. He worked with musicians Paul Pena, Bonnie Raitt, Phish, Miles Davis, and B.B. King. Merl also recorded with The Dinosaurs, a "supergroup" of first-generation Bay Area rock musicians.

Released material own Sumertone (his own record label) and also recorded on Fantasy Records, Galaxy Records and Relix as well as the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia labels. He worked with the Grateful Dead on the theme music for the 1985 TV show The New Twilight Zone, and with Mickey Hart on the score for the show. He was a director of The Recording Academy, and did the sound design for several of the Grammy Awards. Discography Main studio, live and compilation releases 1968 - Soul Grooving - Merl Saunders Trio and Big Band 1972 - Heavy Turbulence - with Tom Fogerty 1973 - Fire Up - with Tom Fogerty and Jerry Garcia 1973 - Live at the Keystone - with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Bill Vitt 1974 - Merl Saunders 1976 - You Can Leave Your Hat On - with Aunt Monk 1979 - Do I Move You 1982 - San Francisco After Dark 1988 - Meridien Dreams 1988 - Keystone Encores Vol. ...show less