Grateful Web is pleased to shine the spotlight on Alan Gilman, a dedicated musician whose life journey has taken him from classical piano studies at the Juilliard School in New York to delivering mesmerizing lead guitar work in prominent Grateful Dead tribute bands. Balancing his dual roles as a skilled anesthesiologist and a sought-after “Jerry” on stage, Gilman embodies the passion, commitment, and pure joy that define the Grateful Dead community.
Alan’s musical adventure began in early childhood with piano lessons from his father, an accomplished jazz pianist. By age four, he was reading music, and soon afterward, he found himself taking up classical piano at Juilliard. Though his time immersed in classical composition was brief, it was enough to kindle a lifelong love for music and a deep understanding of musical structure.
As he moved into his teenage years, Gilman’s horizons broadened beyond the classical realm. He picked up his first electric guitar—a Hagstrom III—and plunged into the sounds of rock and pop. The transition from classical piano to 1970s garage-band guitar was the first sign of Alan’s restless curiosity, foreshadowing the far-reaching musical roads he would travel next.
It was during college in upstate New York that Alan first experienced the music of the Grateful Dead. Before long, he was in a band that played a mix of Beatles and Dead covers, soaking up the iconic style of Jerry Garcia. Over countless hours listening to (and learning from) live recordings and studio tracks, Gilman honed his ear for Jerry’s tone, pitch, and unmistakable phrasing. His inherent knack for recognizing exact notes on the fretboard—bolstered by his natural perfect pitch—made him an ideal interpreter of the Dead’s catalog.
Uncle John’s Band and the Tampa Bay Scene
In 1997, Alan joined Uncle John’s Band, a Florida-based Grateful Dead tribute, as its lead guitarist and vocalist. Over the course of 27 years, he performed more than 1,000 shows at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa, delighting locals, out-of-town travelers, and fellow musicians alike. Under Alan’s musical stewardship, Uncle John’s Band became a fixture in the state’s jam-band circuit, earning numerous accolades and memorable moments, including the band’s milestone 1,000th Thursday Show—a local cultural touchstone recognized by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
When the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary shows (“Dead50”) were held at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Uncle John’s Band celebrated across the street at the Field Museum, earning the respect and applause of Deadheads from all corners of the country. Media outlets, such as the Tampa Bay Times, documented the group’s trek north for that long, strange trip.
The Jerry Sound: Guitars and Gear
One of the hallmarks of Alan Gilman’s performances is his remarkable dedication to replicating the signature “Jerry sound.” Over the years, he has carefully assembled a rare and enviable collection of custom-made guitars, including multiple “Tiger,” “Wolf,” “Alligator,” “Travis Bean,” “Hula Girl,” and “Resurrection” models inspired by Garcia’s own instruments. His gear stash doesn’t end there:
Phil Lesh’s McIntosh 2300 and one of Lesh’s Hard Trucker speaker cabinets from the legendary Wall of Sound.
Jerry’s Triple Black Cabinet and speakers, which Garcia used on stage in the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s.
Jerry’s Yamaha Keyboard from his original Garcia album, still featuring the untouched presets used on that iconic recording.
Gilman meticulously tailors his rigs to replicate specific eras of the Dead’s sound. Whether channeling the vintage warmth of the early ’70s or the refined tones of the ’80s, he continually seeks the magical tonal palette that became Jerry’s musical signature.
Even after stepping away from Uncle John’s Band in 2024, Alan remains at the forefront of the Grateful Dead tribute scene. He regularly tours with Rainbow Full of Sound and their complementary project, DeadZep, under the direction of Waynard Scheller. His involvement in Morning Dew, another Florida-based Dead tribute, keeps him active in local circuits as well.
Beyond Florida, Gilman has participated in recreations of seminal Grateful Dead performances—such as performing the complete “Weather Report Suite” in a reenactment of the band’s classic sets—and has made memorable appearances at events like Tampa’s Gasparilla Music Festival.
Not content to limit himself to any single ensemble, Alan also experiments with jam sessions under the moniker Garcia Sundae, uniting musicians who have never before played together to explore spontaneous renditions of Dead tunes. This fresh approach retains the Grateful Dead’s core spirit of improvisation, experimentation, and community.
Outside of his musical passions, Alan Gilman devotes himself to a demanding career as an anesthesiologist, practicing in Manatee County at both Manatee Memorial and Lakewood Ranch Hospital. Known for his calm demeanor and meticulous attention to detail, he is highly regarded by surgical teams and operating-room staff—some of whom have even queued up his own band’s music while working.
While his “day job” might appear worlds apart from his evening gigs, Alan seamlessly merges both halves of his life with compassion, precision, and artistry. As an anesthesiologist, he ensures patient comfort and safety. On stage, he channels that same focus into his spirited, nuanced playing, beckoning the Grateful Dead community to sing, dance, and remember why this music still matters.
Looking Ahead
Alan continues to expand his musical horizons and equipment arsenal, always ready to recreate the sounds of Jerry Garcia’s greatest years. Though he hopes to someday write original music—he’s got a few “works in progress” on the back burner—for now, he is savoring every twist and turn on the road he’s chosen. From classical piano at Juilliard to fronting major Dead tribute acts, Alan Gilman has walked “So Many Roads” to bring the magic of the Grateful Dead to fans far and wide.
Grateful Web salutes Alan’s unwavering commitment to the music, community, and spirit of the Dead. With such a distinctive mix of talent, authenticity, and pure devotion, Alan Gilman continues to light up stages—showing us all that the long, strange trip is indeed a road worth following.
