Merl Saunders & Friends Dinosaurs Legion Of Mary Merl Saunders Quintet Reconstruction Merl Saunders & The Rainforest Band Merl Saunders Trio Merl Saunders And Orchestra
American keyboardist and composer. Closely associated with Jerry Garcia and later with jam bands such as Phish and The String Cheese Incident.
b. February 14, 1934, San Mateo, California, USA
d. October 24, 2008, San Francisco, California, USA
ALBUMS
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders / Jerry Garcia Band*
Heads & Tails: Volume 1
2023, Vinyl Blue Cloudy, 
,
, Jazz-Rock
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
GarciaLive Volume 18 : November 2nd 1974, Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
2022, 2xCD, Album, Round Records (3),
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
GarciaLive Volume 15 (May 21st 1971, Keystone Korner, San Francisco, CA)
2020, 2xCD, Album, Round Records (3)
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
GarciaLive Volume 12 (January 23rd, 1973 The Boarding House)
2019, 3xCD, Album, Round Records (3),
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
GarciaLive Volume Nine (August 11th 1974, Keystone Berkeley)
2017
Jerry Garcia And Merl Saunders
GarciaLive Volume Six (July 5th 1973, Lion's Share)
2016, 3xCD, Album, Round Records (3), ATO Records, ,
, Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia
Keystone Companions - The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings
2012, 6x Vinyl Box Set,
Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia
Well-Matched, The Best Of Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia
2006, CD, ,
, Blues Rock/Free Improvisation/Soul
Merl Saunders
Still Groovin'
2004, CD, Summertone Records
Merl Saunders & Melvin Seals
"Live On Tour"
2003, 2xCD, Album, Blues Planet Records
Merl Saunders Featuring One Step Beyond
Struggling Man
2000, CD, Album, Relix Records,
The Grateful Dead And Merl Saunders
The Twilight Zone - Volume One (Original Soundtrack Recording)
1998
Merl Saunders
Fiesta Amazonica
1997
Merl Saunders
Live : Still Having Fun
1995, CD, Album, Sumertone
Merl Saunders & The Rain Forest Band
It's In The Air
1993
Merl Saunders
Meridien Dreams (Solo Piano Volume One)
1991
Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia
Sunrise Over Haleakala
1990, CD, Single, Promo, Sumertone
Merl Saunders
Blues From The Rainforest
1990, CD, Promo, Smplr, Summertone Records
Merl Saunders
Blues From The Rainforest: A Musical Suite
1990, ,
, New Age
Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt
Keystone Encores
1988, CD, ,
, Rhythm & Blues
Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt
Live At Keystone - Volume II
1988, CD, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Blues Rock/Country Rock
Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt
Live At Keystone, Vol. 1
1988, 
,
, Soul-Jazz
Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt
Keystone Encores Volume II
1988, Vinyl,
Merl Saunders
San Francisco After Dark
1982, LP, Sumertone
Merl Saunders
San Francisco After Dark
1981, 7", Single, Sumertone, ,
, Disco
Merl Saunders
Do I Move You
1979
Merl Saunders And Aunt Monk
You Can Leave Your Hat On
1976, Vinyl, ,
, Soul/Funk/Disco
Merl Saunders
Merl Saunders
1974, Vinyl Terre Haute Press, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Jazz-Funk
Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Vitt
Live At Keystone
1973, 2x Vinyl Indianapolis Pressing, ,
, Blues Rock/Funk/Soul-Jazz/Jazz-Rock
Merl Saunders
Fire Up
1973, Vinyl, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Funk
Merl Saunders
Save Mother Earth
1972, 7", Promo, Fantasy
Merl Saunders
Heavy Turbulence
1972
Merl Saunders
My Problems Got Problems / Welcome To The Basement
1972
Merl Saunders
Julia / Five More
1970
Merl Saunders
I Pity The Fool / Tighten Up
1966
Merle Saunders*
Five More / How's That
1965
Merl Saunders & Heavy Turbulence
Little Bit Of Righteousness
7", Galaxy
Merl Saunders, Man Child Singers
Right On / Mighty Whitey
7", Suemer-tone
Legion Of Mary
The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1
2005
Dinosaurs
Friends Of Extinction
2004
Merl Saunders & Friends
Keepers
1997, CD, Album, Fantasy
Merl Saunders & Friends - Jerry Garcia, Tom Fogerty, John Kahn, Bill Vitt
Fire Up +
1992, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Funk/Blues Rock
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs
1988, ,
, Blues Rock/Psychedelic Rock
Various
Our Best To You
1980, 2xLP, Comp, Gospel Truth Records, ,
, Gospel
Walter Hawkins
Selah
1972
Walter Hawkins And Selah
It Pays
1972
Troy Dodds
The Real Thing / Try My Love
1966
Walter And Sisters
How Long
7", Promo, Studio 10 (2)
Keith* & Donna*
Keith & Donna
1975,
Legion Of Mary
GarciaLive Volume Three (December 14-15, 1974 Northwest Tour)
2013
Merl Saunders & The Rainforest Band
Save The Planet So We'll Have Someplace To Boogie
1991,
Merl Saunders And Orchestra
Soul Roach Part 1
1966
Legion Of Mary
Oriental Theatre, Milwaukee April 19, 1975, WZMF Broadcast
2022, CD, Album, Unofficial, Teatro
Dinosaurs
Friends Of Extinction
2006
APPEARANCES +
Various
Jazz Dispensary: At The Movies
2023, LP, RSD, Comp, Ltd, Pur, Craft Recordings,
Soul/Soundtrack/Jazz-Funk
The Grateful Dead
Best Of The Grateful Dead Live: Volume 1
2018
Various
The Twilight Zone (Original Television Soundtrack)
2016, 3xCD, Comp, Intrada, ,
, Soundtrack/Score/Neo-Classical/Neo-Romantic
Cast Of Clowns
Have A Heart
2012, CD, Album, Gat, Not On Label (Cast Of Clowns Self-released)
Nikki Matheson
Invisible Angel
2011, CD, Not On Label (Nikki Matheson Self-released), 
,
, Country/Folk
Speedometer
Soul Groovin' - Speedometer Live
2009
Jerry Garcia
The Very Best Of Jerry Garcia
2006, 4x CD, ,
, Folk Rock/Classic Rock/Country Rock/Interview
Jerry Garcia
Pure Jerry Sampler Volumes 1-6
2005, CD, Promo, Jerry Made
Taj Mahal
The Essential Taj Mahal
2005, ,
, Country Blues/Delta Blues/Electric Blues/Piedmont Blues/Calypso
Jerry Garcia
Garcia Plays Dylan
2005
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Band
Pure Jerry: Keystone, Berkeley, September 1, 1974
2004, ,
, Country Rock/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
Jerry Garcia
All Good Things - Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions
2004, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, CD, Box Set, ,
, Rock & Roll/Country/Soul/Rhythm & Blues/Psychedelic Rock/Folk/Experimental
Various
Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky
2004
Larry Vann
The Rhythm And Roots Of Larry Vann
2003, CD, Comp, Rusty Key Records
Grateful Dead*
The Very Best Of Grateful Dead
2003, CD, ,
, Folk Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Classic Rock
Jim Weider Band
Remedy
2002, CD, ,
, Jazz-Rock
Gresham*
It's Always Been There
2002
Widespread Panic
The Earth Will Swallow You
2002
Various
Gifts From The Dead
2001, CD, Album, Cedar Glen Music Group, ,
, Bluegrass
Various
Coast To Coast
2001, CD, Comp, DeAgostini, 
,
, Avantgarde/Classic Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Pop Rock/Blues Rock/Folk Rock
Norton Buffalo & The Knockouts
King Of The Highway
2000, CD, Album, Blind Pig Records
Paul Pena
New Train
2000, ,
, Blues Rock/Classic Rock
Tommy Guerrero & Gadget
Hoy Yen Ass'n
2000
Various
Welcome To The Basement
2000, 2x Vinyl, 
,
, Soul-Jazz/Funk/Latin Jazz
Tom Fogerty
1st & Excalibur
1999, CD, ,
, Classic Rock/Blues Rock/Country Rock/Rhythm & Blues/Swamp Pop
Various
Kinky Beats
1999, 2x Vinyl, 
,
, Fusion/Future Jazz/Soul/Big Beat/Easy Listening/Psychedelic Rock/Theme
Merl Saunders With His Funky Friends*
Live!
1998, CD, Album, Sumertone,
Lawson And Friends*
Ticket To Fly - Lawson And Friends Vol.1
1998, CD, Album, Sumertone
Various
Mo' Mod Jazz
1998, CD, ,
, Mod/Soul-Jazz/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Tribute To Jerry Garcia - Deadheads Festival 1997 In Japan
1997, Laserdisc, 12", NTSC, Vap Video, 
Dava
Dava
1997, CD, Album, Not On Label
Various
Fire On The Mountain: Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead Volume 2
1997, ,
, Roots Reggae
Various
Fritz The Cat & Heavy Traffic
1996, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Television's Greatest Hits - Volume 6 - Remote Control
1996, CD 3D Lenticular Case, ,
, Theme
Jerry Miller Band
Life Is Like That
1995, CD, Album, Messaround Records
Various
All Night Long They Play The Blues - The GALAXY Masters
1992
Enzo Avitabile
Enzo Avitabile
1991, ,
, Jazz-Funk/Soul
C.P. Love
Stubborn Girl
1990, CD, MiniAlbum, Orleans Records
C.P. Love
Stubborn Girl
1990, CD, MiniAlbum, Promo, Orleans Records, ,
, Soul
Jerry Garcia
Garcia
1990, CD, ,
, Folk Rock/Country Rock/Rock & Roll
Various
Cool
1988, LP, Comp, Kent Records
Brian Melvin's Nightfood
Nightfood
1988, ,
, Free Jazz/Soul-Jazz/Jazz-Rock/Cool Jazz
Various
The Relix Sampler
1986, ,
, Psychedelic Rock/Blues Rock/Country Rock
Robert Hunter
Amagamalin Street
1984
Jerry Garcia
Run For The Roses
1982, Vinyl, ,
, Folk Rock/Pop Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Classic Rock
Jerry Garcia Band*
Cats Under The Stars
1978, Vinyl Santa Maria Pressing, ,
, Country Rock
David Soul
David Soul
1976, ,
, Pop Rock/Soft Rock
Various
The Music Makers - Keyboard
1975, 2xLP, Gat, Cypress (2), ,
, Technical/Field Recording/Education/Spoken Word
Cesar 830
Cesar
1975
Geoff Muldaur
Is Having A Wonderful Time
1975, Vinyl Santa Maria Pressing,
Wayne Berry
Tails Out
1975
Various
Deep Ear
1975, ,
, Folk Rock/Country Rock/Blues Rock/Rock & Roll
Betty Davis
They Say I'm Different
1974, Vinyl Presswell Pressing, ,
, Blues Rock/Soul/Funk
Jim Post
Looks Good To Me
1974, ,
, Folk Rock/Country Rock
Taj Mahal
Mo' Roots
1974, Vinyl Santa Maria Pressing,
Various
America At Mid-Century
1973, LP, Chevron, ,
, Radioplay/Education
Betty Davis
Betty Davis
1973, ,
, Funk
Brenda Patterson
Brenda Patterson
1973, Vinyl Santa Maria Press, ,
, Blues Rock/Gospel
Jerry Hahn
Moses
1973
Cal Tjader
Last Bolero In Berkeley
1973, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Jazz-Funk/Latin Jazz
Various
Heavy Traffic (Original Sound Track Recording)
1973
Various
Black Girl (Original Sound Track Recording)
1973, ,
, Soul/Funk/Soundtrack
Various
Fritz The Cat (Original Soundtrack Recording)
1972, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Soundtrack/Jazz-Funk
Bonnie Raitt
Give It Up
1972
Tom Fogerty
Goodbye Media Man
1972
Tom Fogerty
Excalibur
1972, ,
, Folk Rock/Blues Rock
Tom Fogerty
Tom Fogerty
1972
Nick Gravenites And Mike Bloomfield Featuring Paul Butterfield And Maria Muldaur
Steel Yard Blues: Original Sound Track From The Motion Picture
1972, Vinyl Terre Haute Pressing, ,
, Soundtrack
John White
John White
1971
Danny Cox
Danny Cox
1971
Grateful Dead*
Grateful Dead
1971
Tom Fogerty
Goodbye Media Man
1971
Merl Saunders Trio And Big Band*
Soul Grooving
1968
xbaghat
AVS #20 - Content, Continuing With Tradition : 1972-1976
2022, Cass, Album, Mixtape, another vinyl sunday,
Various
Instrumentals Soul-Style Vol. 3 – 1965-1966
2021, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Rhythm & Blues Records, History Of Soul
Various
Soho Scene '66-'67 Jazz Goes Mod
2020, 4xCD, Comp, Rhythm & Blues Records, ,
, Modal/Latin Jazz/Soul-Jazz
Various
Jazz Dispensary: Orange Sunset
2020
Various
Soho Scene '64-'65 Jazz Goes Mod
2019, 4xCD, Comp, Rhythm & Blues Records,
Various
Fire On The Mountain: Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead Volumes 1 & 2
2013, 2xCD, Comp, RE, Real Gone Music,
DJ.B*
Mixtape Plan B (Epizod 1)
2010, CD, Mixed, Respekt Records, 
City Center
NC Guest Mix#9
2010, 16xFile, MP3, Mixed, 160, No Conclusion, ,
, Noise/Lo-Fi/Abstract/Psychedelic Rock
Various
The Manifesto Of Rare Groove Vol. 1-3
2007, 3xCD, Comp + Box, Ltd, Brown Sugar Records, The Manifesto Of Rare Groove, ,
, Fusion/Jazz-Funk/Soul/Funk
DJ Mitsu The Beats
28 Roses
2006, CD, Mixed, Show Tiku Bai Records,
Various
Concord Music Group
2005, 3xCD, Comp + CD-ROM + Promo, Concord Music Group,
Various
Live! Collection: Rock - A Cavallo Tra Due Generazioni
2005, CD, Comp, Panorama (23),
Various
Get Your Lie Straight (A Galaxy Of Funky Soul)
2004, CD, Comp, BGP Records, ,
, Soul/Funk
Various
Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky
2004
The Soulsavers Soundsystem
Smoking & Drinking On A Tuesday Nite
2003, CD, Mixed, Promo, Not On Label
Various
Cities 97 Studio C 15th Anniversary Limited Edition — Cities 97 Samplers 1-15
2003, Box, Comp, Ltd + 15xCD, Smplr, Cities 97,
Various
Into The Music Volume 1: Jam Bands
2001, CD, Comp, Redline Entertainment, Rhino Records (2),
Various
Easy Vibes Volume 1
2001, CD, Comp, Feelgood Experience
Various
Afrodisia 2
2000, CD, Comp, Nuevos Medios, 
,
, Afro-Cuban Jazz/Latin Jazz
Various
Dead Delites Volume 4
2000, CD, Comp, Relix Records, ,
, Psychedelic Rock
Various
Hemplennium
2000, CD, Comp, Killer Weed Records
Various
Gathering On The Mountain: Live Part 3
2000, CD, Album, Relix Records
Various
Gathering On The Mountain Live Part 2
2000, CD, Album, Relix Records,
Various
Gathering On The Mountain Live Part 1
2000, CD, Album, Relix Records
Various
Welcome To The Basement
2000, CD, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Soul/Funk/Latin Jazz
Various
3rd Annual Gathering On The Mountain
1999, CD, Comp, Relix Records
Various
A Sense Of Direction
1995
Various
Jazz Collective
1994, CD, Comp, BGP Records, ,
, Fusion/Jazz-Funk
Various
Living In The Country
1993, CD, Comp, DeAgostini
Various
Bad, Bad Whiskey
1993
Various
The Cities' Sampler: Songs For The Earth Volume 3
1991, CD, Smplr, Cities 97, ,
, Acoustic
Various
Música Para Desaparecer Dentro
1991
Various
Analogue Tape Sampler Of Jazz-Rock Direct To Disc Releases
1981, LP, Album, Comp, Promo, Crystal Clear Records, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Latin Jazz
Various
Keyboard
1975, ,
, Interview/Technical/Education/Spoken Word
Various
Fritz The Cat (Original Soundtrack Recording)
1972
Various
The Manifesto Of Rare Groove Vol. 7-9
3xCD, Comp + Box, Comp, Ltd, Num, Brown Sugar Records, 
,
, Disco/Funk/Jazz-Funk
Various
Promopak 12
CD, Comp, RDR Promotions
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
Record Plant, Sausalito July 8, 1973, KSAN Broadcast
2022, CD, Unofficial, Teatro
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
Great American Music Hall, San Francisco May 2, 1974 KSAN Broadcast
2022, 3xCD, Unofficial, Teatro,
The Grateful Dead
Snack Benefit Concert - San Francisco 1975
2017
Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders
After Midnight (Live At Lion's Share, San Anselmo December 28,1972)
2015
Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Bill Kruetzmann* & Merl Saunders
Pacific High Studio San Francisco CA 06-02-72
2015
Jerry Garcia Band*
Live At KSAN Pacific High Studio 1972
2015,
Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
A Long Strange Trip
2014, 4xCD, Ltd, RM, Unofficial, Original Master Series
Jerry Garcia / Merl Saunders Band
Pacific High 72
2014
Grateful Dead* & The Allman Brothers*
The Longest Day
2009, 10xCD, Unofficial + 2xDVD-V, Unofficial, NTSC + Bo, Wonderland Records (5),
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal / Mo' Roots
2001, CD, Comp, Unofficial, Grammy, 
,
, Experimental
Grateful Dead*
Grateful Dead
2001, CD, Album, Unofficial, Not On Label (The Grateful Dead)
Tom Fogerty
Tom Fogerty / Excalibur
2000
Grateful Dead* & The Allman Brothers*
The Longest Day
1999, 6xCD, Album, Unofficial, Not On Label (The Grateful Dead), Not On Label (The Allman Brothers Band), ,
, Blues Rock/Classic Rock/Country Rock/East Coast Blues/Electric Blues/Psychedelic Rock/Hard Rock/Rock & Roll
Various
Lounge Dips & Gaunge Grips
1996, Cass, Comp, Unofficial, Not On Label
Various
Chazzy Grits
1995, Cass, Comp, Unofficial, Not On label, ,
, Soul-Jazz/Latin Jazz/Funk/Soul/Afro-Cuban Jazz/Hard Bop/Blues Rock/Jazz-Funk
Betty Davis
Betty Davis
1989, Vinyl, ,
, Funk
Grateful Dead*
Grateful Dead
1971
Various
Untitled
12", Comp, Unofficial, W/Lbl, Not On Label
Various
A Sack Of Soul Vol. 7
LP, Comp, Unofficial, From The Basement Records
Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders, Bill Kreutzmann
Blues For No One
2xCD, Unofficial, Main Street
Garcia*, Saunders*, Fogerty*
Lions Share
CD, Unofficial, Main Street, ,
, Psychedelic Rock
Various
Funky Grits & Latin Dips
Cass, Comp, Unofficial, Not On label
Troy Dodds
The Real Thing / Try My Love