The mythical psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead was honored in Los Angeles for their musical and philanthropic contributions as Persons of the Year by the MusiCares foundation, prior to the Grammy Awards. Bob Weir, guitarist and vocalist of the group, shared in his speech: 'Illuminating people and spreading joy through music was all we really had in mind, and we largely achieved it.'
The charity event, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, was part of the pre-Grammy activities and raised over 5 million dollars to help music professionals affected by the recent wildfires in the region. Although they were not directly threatened, the band's lasting legacy received special recognition last year with performances by Dead & Company in Las Vegas, grabbing attention on social media platforms like TikTok.
Artists from different generations came together to pay tribute to The Grateful Dead during the evening. Vampire Weekend, Maren Morris, Noah Kahan, Béla Fleck, Norah Jones, The War and Treaty, Dwight Yoakam, and The War on Drugs were some of the notable performers of the band's classics. The backing band for the night was led by Don Was and included talented musicians such as Rick Mitarotonda and Grahame Lesh.
The event featured emotional moments, such as the participation of Wynonna Judd, who thanked Weir for his support and had the audience on their feet with her performance of 'Ramble on Rose.' The legacy of the original members of The Dead was also present through video messages from Bill Kreutzmann, as well as the presence of Trixie García, representing her father Jerry García.
After the speeches from Weir and Hart, Dead & Company performed several classics from The Grateful Dead's repertoire, culminating the night with the 80s pop hit 'Touch of Grey.' The event served as a recognition of the band's enduring influence and impact on music and culture.
