Merl Saunders

Best-known for his keyboard playing with Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders worked in jazz outfits with Lionel Hampton and Billy Williams in the early '60s, later assembling his own trio with Eddie Moore and Jimmy Daniels. In 1968 he served as musical director for the Broadway musical BIG TIME BUCK WHITE with jazz vocalist Oscar Brown Jr. After returning to San Francisco, Saunders began working with Mike Bloomfield before sitting in with Garcia at small club dates. They subsequently recorded two studio albums and one live record for Fantasy Records in the early '70s, and collaborated on music for the revitalized Twilight Zone television program. Saunders also recorded solo albums for the Sumertone label throughout the '80s and '90s.