Update (October 25): It’s shocking news that the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh passed away on Friday (October 25), just two days after the band was announced as the 2025 MusiCares Person of the Year. The band will still be honored at the MusiCares gala on January 31, but now two of its founding members, instead of just one (the late Jerry Garcia), will be honored posthumously.
MusiCares Executive Director Laura Segura shared this statement on Friday: “MusiCares mourns the passing of Phil Lesh. As legendary bassist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, Phil left a lasting legacy with his unique contributions to music, advocacy and philanthropy. influence.
“Phil will be honored alongside his Grateful Dead bandmates as 2025 Person of the Year, commemorating their journey beyond music and cultivating a deep sense of unity and generosity. This tribute is a testament to Phil’s extraordinary legacy and commitment to creating community. and an unwavering dedication to causes close to his heart, including his Unbroken Chain Foundation and MusiCares.
“Phil will be deeply missed and our thoughts are with his loved ones and the Grateful Dead community.”
Previously (October 23): Indeed, what a long and strange trip it has been.
The Grateful Dead were a band that never received a Grammy nomination but became one of the most legendary live bands in history despite having a total of one Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. , will be honored as a 2025 MusiCares Person of the Year. The 34th Annual Personality Charity Gala will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, January 31, 2025, two nights before the 67th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena.
The Grateful Dead are the third band to win this honor, following Fleetwood Mac in 2018 and Aerosmith in 2020. Recognized for their contributions to music, their philanthropic efforts and their pioneering role in promoting community development through concerts and events. The event will also include a tribute to band co-founder Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995 at the age of 53.
Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh and Weir released a detailed joint statement regarding the honor. This is complete:
“It’s simple: we all need music. It speaks to each of us and gives us what we need to face life – to enhance our joy, to help us spread our joy, to make our sadness more bearable. We can’t imagine without it world. As our old friend Jerry always said, “You get something, you give something back,” and this is a very effective way to share those benefits.
“While we can’t prove that Muse – the power behind what we do – is working hard to build a support system for the show, over sixty years in music has taught us that it takes a lot of dedicated people to make everything come to life. .Everyone behind the scenes has honed their skills to meet the multiple demands of the show, and without them, none of this would be what Muse was meant to be, and each of them is indispensable and they pour their heart and soul into it. and spirit.
“We also want to thank the Dead Heads community for their unwavering support over the years – without you, we wouldn’t be here.
“We are extremely honored to be named MusiCares Person of the Year. This honor is truly a testament to the legacy of music that has always been greater than us – it is about us, the crew and everyone who has been on this long and strange journey. connection. It’s not just about what we create, it’s about the people who stand behind us every night to get the support they need to keep going no matter what life throws at them. We’re excited to stand with MusiCares. Together, and hoping everyone will continue to support this important mission to ensure music thrives forever.
Formed in 1965, the Grateful Dead are one of the most influential bands in American history, known for their unique fusion of rock, folk, jazz and avant-garde music. In December, a month before receiving the MusiCares award, the Grateful Dead will perform with Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, Francis Ford Coppola Ford Coppola and Harlem’s Apollo Theater join the 47th class of Kennedy Center Honorees.
The Dead’s final concert record of 2,318 remains a world record. An album recorded at a 1977 concert at Cornell University’s Barton Hall was added to the National Recording Registry in 2011.
As mentioned previously, the band has never been nominated for a Grammy, but two of its records have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: their consecutive 1970 studio albums worker’s death (1970) and American Beauty. In 2007, the band also received the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Dead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, a year before Garcia’s death.
The band entered the Billboard 200 with an astonishing 124 titles. The highest charting album was the 1987 Arista album in darknessreaching 6th place. (The band’s signature song “Truckin'” was its second-highest-selling single, peaking at No. 64 in 1971.)
In February, the band broke the record for the most Top 40 albums since the weekly Billboard 200 chart began in March 1956. The total number of records.
The MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute Ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during Grammy Week. Events include cocktail receptions, dinners and tribute concerts.
Since its inception in 1991, the Person of the Year Gala has raised funds to support MusiCares’ health and human services programs, which provide music professionals with physical and mental health care, addiction recovery, preventive clinics, unforeseen personal emergencies and disaster relief services.
Five-time Grammy Award winner Don Was will serve as musical director for the event. The evening will once again be produced by live events broadcasters Lewis & Clark, formed by Joe Lewis and RA Clark. They also hosted last year’s Jon Bon Jovi Memorial Gala. AEG is a major sponsor of the event.
“MusiCares is honored to honor the Grateful Dead at the 2025 Person of the Year Gala,” MusiCares Executive Director Laura Segura said in a statement. “Their legacy transcends music, building a community of fans and collaborators. , embodying the spirit of connection and support that goes hand in hand with MusiCares’ mission, the band’s passion for the arts and philanthropy, as well as their enduring commitment to social causes, create a lasting impact beyond the stage that celebrates their impact on music and humanity. It is an honor to contribute.
In addition to their musical achievements, members of the Grateful Dead also made significant contributions to charity. Garcia, Hart, Kreutzman, Lesh and Weill all support efforts ranging from environmental protection and mental health to music education and social justice. Initiatives such as Garcia’s involvement with the Rex Foundation, Hart’s work in music therapy and brain health, Weir’s advocacy against climate change and poverty eradication, Kreutzmann’s ocean conservation efforts, and Lesh’s Unbroken Chain Foundation all underscore the band’s commitment to beyond the stage Commitment to contribute.
Tables and tickets can be purchased at http://personoftheyear.musicares.org/. For more information about events or sponsorship opportunities, visit MusiCares.org or email personoftheyear@musicares.org.
