Add a Memory
Make a Donation
Merl Saunders Obituary
Saunders died Friday at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco of complications due to a stroke, said his son, Merl Saunders Jr.
"We loved him very much - and we know that you, his fans, did too," his family said in a statement posted on Saunders' Web site. "He was a special man, a beautiful companion, father, grandfather, and family patriarch, and the proof of that spirit is in the way you've reached out to us at his passing."
Born in San Mateo, Calif., Saunders attended high school with Johnny Mathis in San Francisco. One of Saunders' very first performances was a high school event with Mathis, Saunders Jr. said.
Some of Saunders' most famous music was made in the 1960s and 1970s when he teamed up with the Grateful Dead's lead guitarist and singer, Jerry Garcia. The Saunders-Garcia Band recorded two records in the 1970s and the two would play together on an array of projects until Garcia's death in 1995.
In 1990 Saunders and Garcia released the album "Blues from the Rainforest" that achieved success on the new age music charts.
Saunders is survived by his longtime companion, his two sons and a daughter.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press
20 Entries
August 7, 2014
A man, in all definitions....
April 2, 2010
For Merl...when you worked
with Miles Davis and other greats
it made them better.
WEEP NOT FOR ME
Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell among the wonders of the earth; for my larger self is free, and my soul rejoices on the other side of pain...on the other side of darkness.
Do not weep for me, for I am a ray of sunshine that touches your skin, a tropical breeze upon your face, the hush of joy within your heart and the innocence of babes in mothers arms.
I am the hope in a darkened night. And, in your hour of need, I will be there to comfort you. I will share your tears, your joys, your fears, your disappointments and your triumphs.
Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels, and hear the music beyond the stars.
Do not weep for me, for I am within you;
I am peace, love, I am a soft wind that caresses the flowers. I am the calm that follows a raging storm. I am an autumns leaf that floats among the garden of God, and I am pure white snow that softly falls upon your hand.
Do not weep for me, for I shall never die, as long as you remember me...
with a smile and a sigh.
© Joe Fazio
~
[email protected] /Joe Fazio,
Beverly Hills, California
Glenn Holler
October 29, 2008
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.
How you can show support
M. Forrest Paxson
October 29, 2008
Jerry & Merl back together. I want the first CD they cut.
Bill Cochran
October 28, 2008
May the long time sun shine upon you and all love surround you and may the clear light within you shine your way home.
Robin Nunn
October 28, 2008
Music, when soft voices die
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory—
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the beloved's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
By Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Poetry Foundation
Tommy Caldwell
October 28, 2008
Thanks so much Merl. Your music is underappreciated - I loved seeing you live - you were an awesome guy too!! RIP Brother!
WALTER ELLSWORTH
October 28, 2008
YET ANOTHER MUSIC ICON PASSES ON TO BE WITH ALL OTHERS UP IN HEAVEN.PLAYING JOYFUL MUSIC WE WONT HEAR UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.REST IN PEACE.
WALTER J. ELLSWORTH ROCHESTER N.H.
FAN FOR MANY YEARS
Jess P
October 27, 2008
I will always hold a special place in my heart for you Merl. Love ya madly.
Julie Berube
October 27, 2008
I just listened to an Expressway Jam that Merl did live with the Jerry Garcia Band the other day and thought what an amazing musician Merl Saunders is. I'm saddened by his death and will miss him.
Doug Longo
October 27, 2008
Thanks for all the great music and vibes, God bless you and yor Family.
That band of angels in heaven has just gotten a lot cooler.
Thomas Widgeon
October 27, 2008
Jesus Loves Me!!!
nick casares
October 26, 2008
merl your music was like a road leading home. R.I.P.
October 26, 2008
To The Saunders Family,
Sorry to read about your loss, you can find comfort in the bible book of John 5:28, 29.
Sincerely,
One of Jehovah's Witnesses
D. ZIMMERMAN
October 26, 2008
REST IN PEACE MERL SAUNDERS
Harry Simpson
October 26, 2008
The song is ended, but the melody lingers on...
Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.
Suzanne Murphy
October 26, 2008
Deborah... I am so sorry to hear of your loss I am thinking of you.
Zannie
Andy Millman
October 26, 2008
I want to thank you, for a real good time.
Rest in peace Merl, and God bless. You will be missed
Showing 1 - 20 of 20 results
Make a Donation
in Merl Saunders's name
How to support Merl's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Merl Saunders's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read moreMore ways to support the family
Visit the Sympathy Shop
Sponsored