The first gig that Jacklyn LaBranch did as part of the Jerry Garcia Band, was at The Stone. It was during the bandвЂ™s singing rehearsal that LaBranch met Jerry Garcia. After learning the Music with Melvin Seals, they did a singing rehearsal with the band. Some of the pieces she started with include The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and Dear Prudence. LaBranch always played the piano, and also played in the orchestra. To LaBranch, music was music, so she really did not really question the lyrics or music. And thatвЂ™s how LaBranch joined the Jerry Garcia Band.ДЄfter that, LaBranch, Melvin, and Dickerson, also known as Dee Dee started doing singing rehearsals together. Melvin Seals asked LaBranch if she would like to be a member of the Jerry Garcia Band after doing some recording work in his studio, an offer that LaBranch agreed to in delight. The community choir had not disbanded, but they had sort of stopped singing. LaBranch was a member of a community choir and their director had just moved out of town. At the time, LaBranch was not at all familiar with Jerry GarciaвЂ™s music. Jacklyn LaBranch was first introduced to the Jerry Garcia Band through Melvin Seals. LaBranch was an instrumental vocalist for the band and her positive presence offered a direct connection to the work and life of Jerry Garcia and their shared origin from the Bay Area.

Jacklyn LaBranch became a member of the Jerry Garcia Band as early as 1982 and was a member of the band until Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995. Over the years following Jerry GarciaвЂ™s passing, Gloria Jones participated in various events paying tribute to Jerry including the Jerry Garcia Birthday BandвЂ™s performances at Vail in 2018 and Red Rocks in 2017 Jacklyn LaBranch and Gloria Jones were nicknamed The Jerryettes and were instrumental in creating the bandвЂ™s soul food sound. With the exception of Kemper who took a four-month break between 19 and subsequently left the band in 1994, the band remained intact from its formation up to the period when Jerry Garcia passed away. When Gloria Jones joined the Jerry Garcia Band, the group already included a fantastic lineup that included the likes of Jerry, vocalist Jacklyn LaBranch, organist Melvin Seals, drummer David Kemper, and bassist John Kahn. Gloria Jones is a famous vocalist who was part of the Jerry Garcia Band from 1984 until Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995.

Jerry garcia band members