Today in Rock History, in 1941, Robert Hunter, lyricist for the Grateful Dead, is born in Arroyo Grande, California (my brother’s current address). The first lyrics he wrote for the Grateful Dead were composed while on LSD, and mailed to the band from Arizona: a suite that would later become "China Cat Sunflower"/"The Eleven" (these were originally performed together for a short time). "China Cat Sunflower" would later find a partner in "I Know You Rider". And it continues… Since the dissolution of the Grateful Dead in 1995 Hunter has successfully continued his writing career, working on new songs with Jim Lauderdale, Steve Kimock, David Nelson, and Rob Barraco, among others. He also is seen occasionally playing solo acoustic guitar and performing his classic works, as well as newer songs. In 2004 he opened most of The Dead's summer tour. Hunter co-wrote all but one of the songs on the 2009 Bob Dylan album Together Through Life. Happy 70th, Bob, and keep on truckin’! Thanks to http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/today-in-rock/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hunter_(lyricist) for the info, and keep on rockin’!
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3 comments:
thanks for this charlie! Hunter is so completely underrated as a songwriter of the very first rank. I hate this kind of revisionism you will hear now about how the Dead where an aimless jam band ... their best songs which often were Hunter lyric driven are in fact like Dylan songs in that you hear them once, you won't forget them ever ... Cumberland Blues, Friend of the Devil: that's World Class songwriting right there ladies 'n gennelmen
Right on! We have "Truckin'" in our set list now - will have to send you a recording of our version...
Every time i get to :40 in this vid I remember you telling me, "hey man, when you're in the middle of the song there's no do-overs when you make a mistake, just pick up where you can" (and just keep on truckin' ah-haaaa-ha-on).
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