[*Here are a few of the strongest influences on the music of the Grateful Dead. I've tried to supply some early - or my favorite - recordings of the Dead playing the music of these artists on the following pages - check for links to mp3's at the top of each page/section. KD]
- Minglewood Blues
This song has existed in many versions, here is a discussion of its history. - Jesse "The Lone Cat" Fuller
Jesse wrote Beat It On Down The Line and Monkey and the Engineer. - Bonnie Dobson Interview
Bonnie is the author of Morning Dew. I interviewed her in London in 1993. - The True Story Of Casey Jones
Read the true story of the heroic engineer who died with one hand on the brake and the other on the whistle, scalded to death by the steam. - Cannon's Jug Stompers
Gus Cannon's jug band recorded Minglewood Blues, Viola Lee Blues and Big Railroad Blues. - Rev Gary Davis
Gary Davis was a powerful vocalist and a masterful guitar player who wrote Death Don't Have No Mercy and recorded a version of Samson and Delilah. - Bob Dylan
Dylan is the single greatest source for material outside of the band. - Memphis Jug Band
Another of the great jug bands from Memphis, they recorded The Lindberg Hop, On The Road Again and Stealin'. - The Folk Tradition
The influences of traditional songs on some Hunter compositions. - Jug Band Music
A look at two jug bands from the 1960s, The Jim Kweskin Jug Band and The Even Dozen Jug Band. - Country Music
A look at some of the Country and Western songs played by the Grateful Dead.