The "Grateful Garcia Gathering" will be returning back to the natural surroundings of "Camp NCN" on August 2nd through the 5th 2007, in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin. This annual mellow gathering will be our 7th in a celebration of Jerry Garcia's 65th Birthday, plus the 12th Anniversary of Jerry's untimely passing. This is going to be a very deeply humble and special time for camping and gathering with friends of old and new! Each band we have performing at the 3G's performs their own originals, plus 1 to 3 cover songs by the Grateful Dead / Jerry Garcia Band. The 3G's just wouldn't be complete without a musical cohort and personal friend of Jerry's to be part of the festivities. Melvin Seals, the longtime vocalist and organist of the "Jerry Garcia Band" and JGB, will headline for two nights starting on Aug. 3rd & 4th. Melvin Seals remained with the "Jerry Garcia Band" longer than any other keyboardist. He was with the band from 1980 until the untimely passing of Jerry in 1995.
Melvin Seals, musical director with the "Jerry Garcia Band" for over 15 years, is endlessly carrying the torch for Jerry Garcia on the 12th Anniversary of his untimely passing. Melvin Seals & JGB" are touring this summer in 2007 as "Keepers of the Flame". Melvin has assembled a talented group of stellar musicians to help carry on Jerry Garcia's timeless music and elevate the listener to new heights of karmic nirvana!
A true example of this was seen at "Comes A Time" (A Tribute to Jerry Garcia) at the Greek Theater Berkeley, California September 24th 2005. For that one beautiful evening, they were known as the "Jerry Band". Gracing the stage were Melvin Seals (Keyboards & Vocals), Gloria Jones (Vocals), Jackie LaBranch (Vocals), Stu Allen (Guitar, Vocals), Marty Holland (bass), Sam Howard (drums). Some of the remaining members of the "Jerry Garcia Band", led by Melvin Seals, laid out perhaps the best full tilt performance of the evening by playing such gems as "Rhapsody in Red" and "Cats Under the Stars." The high point of many fans that evening was when they concluded with "Deal" featuring Warren Haynes" performing on guitar, Bill Kreutzmann is performing on drums and another of Jerry Garcia's favorite keyboardist, Merl Saunders (who sat and performed side by side with Melvin). It was truly a moment in time! "Melvin Seals & JGB" surely produced the first magical jams of that evening, with an awesome element of relaxing improvisation like none other. You could truly feel that Jerry's presents, was in the air that evening!
And, as a true tribute to Jerry, "Melvin Seals & JGB" will be performing once again at the 3G's with all original material of the "Jerry Garcia Band". The festival goers will be transcended into Jerry's past. When you see one of their concerts, you will know that Jerry Garcia's baton certainly has been passed...
