Today, the Grateful Guitars Foundation (GGF), a 501(3)(c) nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond, has announced that they will gift Dark Star Orchestra’s (DSO) rhythm guitarist Rob Eaton with a custom designed guitar made by GGF Luthier Rich Hoeg. The gift will take place at DSO’s February 8 show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA. In conjunction with the gift at the February 8 show, GGF will be making a donation to Elevate Oakland, a non-profit that works to bring culturally vibrant art and music programs to Oakland’s youth.
“You can’t write the history of Grateful Guitars without our friends, Rob Eaton and Rich Hoeg, two of the best artists in the Grateful Dead music scene,” shares GGF Founder Andy Logan. “Rich made the first Blackknife that we gave away for Rob and he’s rocked it for years, so we are so stoked to facilitate this incredible build that represents the culmination of decades of work playing this legendary music that has proven to be built to last.”
Hoeg adds, “When Rob and I were talking about details, he said, ‘Whatever you decide, I know I'll love it and play the hell out of it!’ Rob is one special friend, and I can't wait to see his reaction when he sees it for the first time.”
Eaton started playing guitar at the age of 12, after being inspired by the Grateful Dead’s classic Europe '72 live album. He played in his first band, The Peyote Ridge Band, from 1975 until 1980 – incorporating Dead covers in their set along with originals – and then moved to New York City to begin a recording career. He spent years as a staff engineer with The Power Station Studios and has been involved in the Grateful Dead community since the ‘70s as part of Border Legion, a northern NJ Dead cover band, until joining DSO full time in 2001.
Founded by Logan in 2019, the Grateful Guitars Foundation not only serves to put guitars in the hands of musicians in the community but also supports music instruction in schools to seed the next generation of these players through their partnerships with various schools and educational organizations. Last year was busy for the GGF who hosted their second annual benefit concert at San Francisco’s famed Great American Music Hall on August 13, 49 years to the day since the Grateful Dead’s legendary performance at the venue, featuring performances by Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), John Kadlecik (Dark Star Orchestra, FURTHUR), Barry Sless (Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros), David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) and more. This followed the release of the compilation Grateful: The Music Plays the Band, a seventeen-track collection of some of the finest Grateful Dead songs performed by key members of the band’s greater musical community including Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company), DSO and more. Learn more about The Grateful Guitars Foundation at https://gratefulguitars.org/.
About Dark Star Orchestra
Performing to critical acclaim for over 25 years and over 3100 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience. Their shows are built off the Dead's extensive catalog and the talent of these seven fine musicians. On any given night, the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead's 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. Honoring both the band and the fans, Dark Star Orchestra's members seek out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations. Dark Star Orchestra has performed throughout the entire United States, including a sold-out debut at Colorado’s Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, plus shows in Europe and the Caribbean with the band touching down in seven different countries and at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, Milwaukee's SummerFest, The Peach Music Festival, Jam Cruise, Wanee Festival, SweetWater 420 Festival, Mountain Jam and many more. Dark Star Orchestra also hosts its own annual music festival titled the Dark Star Jubilee, currently in its eighth year, where DSO headlines all three nights and are joined by a mix of established and up and coming national touring acts. Beyond the shores of the United States, DSO has taken its internationally-acclaimed Grateful Dead tribute to the beaches of Jamaica in the dead of winter for the past six years, with their event appropriately titled Jam in the Sand. The band has featured guest performances from six original Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Vince Welnick, Tom Constanten and even toured with longtime Dead soundman, Dan Healy. Other notable guests have included Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish, Keller Williams, Warren Haynes, Steve Kimock, Peter Rowan, Ramblin' Jack Elliot and many more.
About Grateful Guitars Foundation
Grateful Guitars is a 501-c3 nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond. We identify musicians who thrive in live settings and we secure the gear they need to reach their fullest musical potential. Through the powerful connection between the skilled player and the highest quality instrument, our aim is to ensure that jam band music thrives for generations of live music fans. Additionally, Grateful Guitar Foundation board members share actual and replica Grateful Dead instruments and gear from their personal collections with players in the community. We are also rolling out a program seeking to support music instruction in schools to seed the next generations of talented players in the Bay Area and beyond.
About Elevate Oakland
Their mission to provide students with opportunities to engage in art and music programming has led Elevate Oakland to partner with public schools to meet a wide variety of needs, ranging from the provision of musical instruments to facilitating opportunities for students to perform alongside local professional musicians. To date, Elevate Oakland has successfully served over 3,000 youth at over 30 Oakland public schools. Across its programs, the focus is not on creating professional musicians, but instead on utilizing music and the arts as a conduit to get students excited about learning. Elevate Oakland supports students by using this excitement to get kids to school, engage them in learning, and support the development of skills that will help them succeed both within and outside of the classroom.
