Thanks to Scott for posting this sad news about Merl. I guess the days Merl shows are now over for good, at least here on Earth, but his influence will continue to touch us for a long time; cause That’s the Touch I Like.
I know personally, the three Garcia Saunders albums were instrumental, pardon the pun, in me learning how to play guitar. Those albums and shows with Merl exhibited a confident simpleness that enabled me to join in with the music as if they were inviting me to play along. Give the CDs a listen and you can tell how it’s not just inviting me to play along but inviting all musicians to take a song and make it as good as possible. Inviting all to think of the possibilities and reaching for them while always having a beautiful saftey net on which to fall back down upon. Rest in peace Merl and enjoy forever being a part of the Grateful Dead.