Happy Birtday Ron Pigpen McKernan Sept. 8th 1945

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Happy Birthday Pig Pen!

 

Funny, I have been thinking about all of last night & today.

Grateful Dead - Fillmore West - Hey Jude 3-1-69

https://youtu.be/o0ms_1vkl18

IMG_4329.JPG Thanks I think I'm gonna swing by Alta Mesa today and pay respects (from the zone too)

just in time I received this in the mail last night

IMG_4331.JPGThat was one of the shot glasses I had ordered from Shutterfly here are some others

 

 

 

 

I may have to try a shot of Jack Daniels out of one of my tequila shot glasses

From one of our visits to Greg's dad across the lane in Alta Mesa. Always a part of our visit to check in on the McKernan family.
 

pigpen grave marker_0.jpg

Now and Forever.

Long time now gone but never forgotten. In my opinion he defined the raw early Grateful Dead and his blues and what he contributed to the band has become greatly under appreciated as time has elapsed.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine! R.I.P. Pigpen.

Love Two Souls so much-closest i got to Gd performance was Chris Robinson sitting in with Phil at red Rocks a few years back. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXHG-ZDYUZQ

Catch the salute to the one and only. Com'n to a town near you soon...................

 

Could that pic be the infamous show where Bill got dosed and played gong and cowbell all night?

 GRATEFUL DEAD AT FILLMORE EAST, 2/11/69, "Late Show," includes this bit of on-stage patter as it opens:

(Producer Bill Graham has just been presented with the gift of a cowbell he played with the band during a show in San Francisco earlier in the year)

Graham, at microphone: "...it has always been my lifetime ambition to become the greatest cowbell player in the world..."

Jerry Garcia, at back of stage: "Give up."

Lovin that guy in the big alligator mu mu

He ain't needin no Teleprompter

was it Eric Burdon that used to wearing a mumu? I haven't even thought of that word in many years

nor dashiki 

 

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This is a crazy long link to that story of Bill trippin and playing cowbell  (Bill Graham Presents: My Life Inside Rock And Out)

https://books.google.com/books?id=wnZ0qL3QdkgC&lpg=PA244&ots=KY7tKREOh_&...

Appreciate Pigpen for helping the Grateful Dead discover they could play R&B and the blues. For the love of God though, the man couldn't sing. That Hey Jude from 3-2-69 has always drove me crazy. It's horrible.

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LoveLight is not horrible

and llve performances transcend recordings, live is live, no disrespect or grandpa boasting intended; just saying

passion and connecting with the spirit or soul or heart often trump "skill or talent"

(god it felt awkward using the word Trump)