Jerry Garcia's Real Name: Jerome John Garcia

Quick answer: The musician was known professionally as Jerry Garcia. His official biography, AllMusic, and Britannica independently give the name Jerome John Garcia. AllMusic and Britannica independently date the birth to August 1, 1942, in San Francisco, California, and the death to August 9, 1995, in Forest Knolls, California.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers identify him under the professional name Jerry Garcia and give the name Jerome John Garcia. His official biography says he was born in San Francisco to Jose Ramon "Joe" Garcia and Ruth Marie "Bobbie" Garcia and was named after Jerome Kern. AllMusic independently dates the birth to August 1, 1942, in San Francisco, and also says he was named after Jerome Kern. Britannica independently dates the birth to August 1, 1942, in San Francisco. Official and Britannica accounts say he lost much of the middle finger on his right hand in a wood-chopping accident at the age of five; AllMusic dates that accident to the age of four. AllMusic and Britannica independently record that his father later drowned; Britannica dates that death to 1948.

Career highlights

His official biography records the first Warlocks gig on May 5, 1965, at Magoo's Pizza in Menlo Park, and a name change to Grateful Dead later that year, with a December 4 performance at a Ken Kesey Acid Test in San Jose. Britannica independently traces the same sequence from Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions to the Warlocks and, in late 1965, the Grateful Dead. AllMusic says he was a founding member of the Grateful Dead and de facto leader from 1965 until 1995, and later led the Jerry Garcia Band. AllMusic lists later million-selling Grateful Dead albums including Workingman's Dead, American Beauty, Europe '72, and In the Dark, and the Top Ten single "Touch of Grey." Britannica independently cites later work with the Jerry Garcia Band, Old & In the Way, and New Riders of the Purple Sage, and records a 1994 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction with the Grateful Dead.

Death

AllMusic says he died in his sleep of a heart attack on August 9, 1995, at the age of 53, at a facility in Forest Knolls, California. Britannica independently dates the death to August 9, 1995, in Forest Knolls, and says he died of a heart attack at a rehabilitation clinic; it adds that clogged arteries were the cause.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Jerry Garcia or Jerome John Garcia are looking for the same musician, including the Grateful Dead work most often associated with his name. Search traffic often uses the professional name Jerry Garcia.