RIP Merl Saunders

[the_wizzard]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/25/BAGK13NQGB.DTL

Merl was just the best!  After a show in '96 (or '97, or '98...I can't remember) in Oly at the Capital Theater, well Merl came back to hang with a group of us at a friends house.  This friend is a musician (keyboards to be exact) and we set up the keys, some drums, bass and guitar.  Merl jammed with my friends till 3 am and it was just the best time.  He was a kind and truly funky man!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slBSSOBJmbQ[/media]

[easy way]

Thanks for posting that vid, Wizzard. I had the pleasure of chatting with Merl in Savannah and remember feeling quite serene in his presence. I'll never forget that...or how he ripped those keys. What a spirit.

[pawpaw]

I put on a little Merl and Jerry this weekend, to pay my respects to the man. Those two gave Jimmy Cliff a run for his money when they'd do The Harder They Come.  :)

RIP Merl. Thank you for the music.

[wharf rat]

RIP Merl.

Altough I didn't have the pleasure of seeing him live, I do have a bunch of Garcia/Saunders work.  He was truly a master of the keys.  Great story by the way, wizzard!