Pigpen
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Born Ronald C. McKernan September 8, 1945
Died March 8, 1973
Ronald C. "Pigpen" McKernan was a founding member of the rock band Grateful Dead. His musical contributions to the Grateful Dead included vocals, Hammond organ, harmonica, percussion, and occasional guitar. He died at the age of 27.
McKernan was born in San Bruno, California, the son of a San Francisco Bay Area R&B and blues disc jockey. He grew up with many black friends, and felt very strongly connected to black music and culture. As a youth, McKernan taught himself blues piano, and also developed a biker image that eventually led to the cessation of his school career. In his early teens, McKernan left Palo Alto High School by mutual agreement with the school's principal. He also developed a strong affinity for alcohol in his adolescence.
McKernan began spending time around coffeehouses and music stores, where he eventually met Jerry Garcia. One night Jerry Garcia had McKernan go on-stage and play his harmonica and sing the blues. Jerry Garcia was impressed; he knew he wanted this man to be the blues singer in all the local jam sessions.
Pigpen was a participant in each of the predecessor groups leading up to the formation of the Grateful Dead, beginning with the Zodiacs and then Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions. Bob Weir and Bob Matthews were added to the mix and evolved into The Warlocks. Around 1965, it was Pigpen who urged the rest of the Warlocks to switch to electric instruments (around the time Phil Lesh would join and they became the Grateful Dead).
Pigpen was the high-energy bluesman of the band. He played blues organ as well as harmonica and vocals, and could rant improvised lyrics incessantly. While his buddies were experimenting with LSD, Pigpen stuck to his old favorites, Thunderbird wine and Southern Comfort. Pigpen steadily added more signature tunes to the Dead's repertoire, including some that lasted for the remainder of their live performance career such as "Turn on Your Lovelight" and "In the Midnight Hour".
On March 8, 1973, he was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at his home in Corte Madera, California. Pigpen is buried at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park.