John Kahn
Musician · b. 1947 · Beverly Hills, California
Best known for
Bass
John Kahn was a California-based bassist who became Jerry Garcia's principal musical collaborator outside the Grateful Dead, anchoring Old & In the Way, the Jerry Garcia Band, and a long string of side projects from 1970 until Garcia's death in 1995.
- Born June 13, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee; adopted at birth and raised in Beverly Hills, California.
- Played acoustic bass in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, and Vassar Clements (1973–1974) — the project that did more than any other to introduce bluegrass to Deadhead audiences.
- Founding member of the Jerry Garcia Band (1975–1978; 1980–1995); the only original member besides Garcia to remain until the end.
- Played on the seminal "Old & In the Way" self-titled live album (Round Records, 1975).
- Other Garcia projects: Legion of Mary (1974–1975), Reconstruction (1978–1979), the Garcia/Kahn acoustic duo (1982–1986), and the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band (1987–1988).
- Played on "Hooteroll?" (Douglas, 1971) with Jerry Garcia and Howard Wales.
- Died May 30, 1996 of a heart attack in Mill Valley, California, less than a year after Garcia's death.
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Old and in the WayPlayed on recordings with Old and in the Way
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Jerry Garcia Acoustic BandPlayed on recordings with Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band