The Grateful Dead received the touching honor just days before bassist Phil Lesh died at the age of 84

Phil Lesh – bassist and co-founder of the cult rock band Grateful dead –died on Friday, just days after the legendary band received the touching honor.

Lesh’s death was confirmed on his official Instagram page, which said he died “peacefully” on Friday morning at the age of 84.

“He was surrounded by family and full of love. “Phil brought immense joy to those around him and left a legacy of music and love,” reads an announcement on social media. “We ask that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”

Although no official cause of death was given, Related press reports that the Berkeley, California, native survived prostate cancer, bladder cancer and a liver transplant in 1998 caused by a hepatitis C virus infection and years of heavy drinking.

The sad news comes just days after it was announced that members of the Grateful Dead had been selected as the 2025 MusiCares Person of the Year.

The nonprofit organization, which helps music professionals in need of financial, personal or medical assistance, will honor original members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Bobby Weir and Lesh for their philanthropic efforts, as well as their impact on American music on its 60th anniversary .

The band will be honored at the 34th annual Person of the Year benefit gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 31, two days before the 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

The band, which emerged from the 1960s counterculture movement in the Saan Francisco area, has long been known for its eclectic style and sound, which includes a variety of musical genres, as well as for its legion of devoted fans known as “Deadheads”. .’

“Their legacy extends beyond music as they have built a community of fans and collaborators who embody a spirit of connection and support that is deeply intertwined with the mission of MusiCares,” said Laura Segura, executive director MusiCares.

Segura added: “The band’s passion for art and philanthropy, along with their enduring commitment to social causes, has made a lasting impact that extends beyond the stage. It is an honor to celebrate their contributions to both music and humanity.”

The upcoming special evening will also include a posthumous tribute to the late Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead’s principal songwriter, lead guitarist and vocalist throughout the band’s existence until his death in August 1995 at the age of 53.

A San Francisco resident died of a heart attack in his room at a rehabilitation center after a long battle with addiction to psychoactive substances, including heroin.

The Grateful Dead eventually disbanded and then launched a series of spin-off projects over the following years and decades.

Known for their eclectic style, the band rose to prominence during the counterculture period of the mid-1960s and began to create their own unique sound, combining elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, gospel, reggae, world music, psychedelia and rock and rolla.

They and the Deadheads became famous for their improvisation during live concerts, better known in musician’s language as jamming, which earned them the nickname “the pioneering godfathers of the jam world”.

Original members included Jerry Garcia (lead guitar and vocals), Bob Weir (rhythm guitar and vocals), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, harmonica and vocals), Phil Lesch (bass and vocals) and Bill Kreutzmann (drums ).

It was a carousel of musicians who had played with the band throughout the band’s life, including Mickey Hart (drummer joined in 1967) and Robert Hunter (non-performing songwriter joined in 1967), along with official members Tom Constanten (keyboards from 1968)-1970), John Perry Barlow (non-executive songwriter from 1971 to 1995), Keith Godchaux (keyboards and occasional vocals from 1971 to 1979), Donna Godchaux (vocals from 1972 to 1979), Brent Mydland (keyboards and vocals from 1979 to 1990) and Vince Welnick (keyboards and vocals from 1990 to 1995).

The Grateful Dead, who were not considered a singles or hit band, would gain greater recognition with long jammy shows and a recording career that consisted of 13 studio albums and nine contemporary live albums.

In 2007, the band was honored with the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their unparalleled contributions to the music industry.

In addition to their musical achievements, band members Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh and Weir have made significant contributions to philanthropic causes such as environmental protection, mental health, music education and social justice.

Some of the initiatives they have supported over the years have included Garcia’s involvement with the Rex Foundation, Hart’s work in music therapy and brain health, Weir’s advocacy for climate change and anti-poverty efforts, Kreutzmann’s ocean conservation efforts, and the Lesha Unbroken Chain Foundation

Founded in 1989 and incorporated in 1993 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the MusiCares Foundation was created so that musicians would have a place to turn to in times of financial and personal hardship, as well as health concerns.

Since 1989, MusiCares has provided over $48 million to artists in need.