Today, we celebrate the birth of a man who was the quiet, steady pulse behind some of the most beloved music in American history. John Kahn, born on this day, was not just a bassist; he was the heartbeat of Jerry Garcia's myriad musical endeavors, the unassuming yet indispensable presence that grounded Garcia's flights of fancy.

Join the festivities underground on Sunday, June 30th, for an extraordinary evening at The Caverns as we commemorate the golden anniversary of the iconic bluegrass ensemble, Old & In the Way. This special event features a once-in-a-lifetime performance by founding member Peter Rowan and the talented Sam Grisman Project, fronted by Sam Grisman, son of David Grisman, another original band member.

Acoustic Disc is thrilled to spotlight an extraordinary piece of bluegrass history this week with the featured album "Breakdown" by the iconic ensemble Old & In the Way. Originally released in 1997, this remarkable live recording showcases the virtuosic talents of Vassar Clements on fiddle, Jerry Garcia on vocals and banjo, David Grisman on mandolin and vocals, Peter Rowan on vocals and guitar, and John Kahn on acoustic bass.

Jerry Garcia's impact on bluegrass music will be on full display for the next two years at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in Owensboro, Kentucky. The exhibit, called Jerry Garcia: A Bluegrass Journey, opened on March 28, 2024, with a historic weekend of music, panel discussions, documentary screenings, and other festivities honoring the late Garcia's career.

Old and In the Way were (ironically) mostly not old – and certainly not at all in anyone’s way! – when they gathered in 1973 to play about 50 live shows. Fiddler Vassar Clements, born in 1928 and having joined Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys at 21, was still under 50. The other members of OAITW were only about 30 at the time, give or take a few years.

As we remember the life of John Kahn today on what would be his 76th birthday, we find ourselves transported to a different era—a time of profound musical exploration and heartfelt collaboration that was the hallmark of Kahn's career. Today, we take a step back in time and honor his phenomenal talent and influence as the indispensable bassist for Jerry Garcia's Band.

What's the top best-selling Bluegrass album of all time? Look no further than Bill Monroe. He is and always will be at the very top of the list. Bill Monroe is the Father of Bluegrass and for a good reason. Drawing a connection from Bill Monroe to Peter Rowan is not all that difficult. Peter Rowan got his start in the music business in the mid-1960s, playing as a twenty-something-year-old newbie in Bill's band, The Bluegrass Boys.

What was once an anomaly is now a standard. Many lovers of classic Bay Area rock, blues, bluegrass, and beyond are investing in live archival releases above studio albums. Thanks to accessibility through vault discoveries and painstaking restoration, live recordings that are forty-plus years old are being heard by the band and fans alike for the first time. Artists such as Neil Young, Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Hot Tuna are releasing performances that haven’t been heard by audiences since the date of original performance.