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Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead

Chris Stone/flickr creative commons

Back in the days when rock and roll was still young and three-chord bands were popping up everywhere, The Grateful Dead were unique in just about every way. They fused multiple music styles: rock, blues, folk, R&B, country, jazz, and, of course, more than a peppering of psychedelia.

They were known for their long jams and extensive touring schedule. They had meager beginnings in Palo Alto, Calif., but went on to develop a huge fan base around the world. 50 years later—that's right, man—50 years later, the fans are still devoted, and there are more all the time.

Today we explore the music, history, and culture with music critic David Browne. His new book, So Many Roads: The Life and Times of The Grateful Dead, is just out.

Join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.

GUEST:

  • David Browne – author of So Many Roads: The Life and Times of The Grateful Dead

MUSIC:

  • “Gne Gne,” Montefiori Cocktail
  • “Dark Star,” The Grateful Dead
  • “China Cat Sunflower,” The Grateful Dead
  • “Shakedown Street,” The Grateful Dead
  • "Touch of Grey," The Grateful Dead
  • "Easy to Love You," The Grateful Dead
  • "Box of Rain," The Grateful Dead
  • "Fire on The Mountain," The Grateful Dead
  • "So Many Roads," The Grateful Dead

Jonathan McNicol contributed to this show.

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Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

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