Grand Ole Opry Legend Jesse McReynolds Releases Bluegrass Album Of Grateful Dead Covers

For those who may be unaware of his name, Jesse McReynolds is a bluegrass musician known for his innovative crosspicking and split-string styles of mandolin playing. He's a forty-two year member of the Grand Ole Opry and a multiple GRAMMY nominee and award winner.

Jesse McReynolds, along with his late brother Jim McReynolds, formed the bluegrass band Jim and Jesse back in the late 40's. The famed duo with his brother continued until Jim’s untimely death in 2002, now he carries on as on his own.

His latest is titled simply Songs of the Grateful Dead: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter. It contains twelve Dead songs both famous and obscure, transformed into mandolin-picked bluegrass. David Nelson and Stu Allen, both veterans of Jerry Garcia’s non-Dead bands join in, but McReynolds has an even bigger card up his sleeve: Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, who wrote final track “Day By Day” with McReynolds.

“Jesse’s singing voice is like a long-lost brother voice between Jerry Garcia and David Nelson,” Hunter wrote. “Everyone who knows their work and is fortunate enough to hear this record will know what I mean. What a trio you’d all have made! The singing is steady and strong. Jerry would approve, I’m certain."