Robert Hunter (born Robert Christie Burns June 23, 1941, Arroyo Grande, California, USA – died September 23, 2019, San Rafael, California, USA) was an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet. He is known for his work with The Grateful Dead; acting as an effective full-time lyricist for the band while eventually releasing his own recordings on the band’s [l71450] label. Hunter wrote lyrics to several Grateful Dead signature songs including: Uncle John’s Band, Dark Star, Truckin’, and China Cat Sunflower. His focus was on writing and production and he wrote several books of poetry.

Hunter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Grateful Dead in 1994, and is the only non-performer to be inducted as a member of a band. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 along with Jerry Garcia.