Legion of Mary (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | July 1974 |
| Founder | Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders |
| Defunct | July 1975 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Live performances, music albums |
Legion of Mary was a rock ensemble from the United States, created by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead alongside his collaborator Merl Saunders. The group was active between July 1974 and July 1975, during which they played approximately 60 live performances. The lineup featured Garcia on guitar and vocals, Saunders handling keyboards and vocals, John Kahn on bass, Martin Fierro performing saxophone and flute, and Ron Tutt on drums. An earlier formation including Paul Humphrey as drummer is occasionally referred to as Legion of Mary; however, subsequent investigations have shown that this name was not used by that iteration.
The band's sound merged rock with elements drawn from blues, funk, reggae, and notably jazz, incorporating lengthy improvisational solos that reflected Garcia’s distinctive approach seen in the Grateful Dead.
Discography
Legion of Mary: The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1 is a live album spanning two CDs, containing recordings made from December 1974 through July 1975. It was issued by Rhino Records on August 23, 2005.
Garcia Live Volume Three comprises three CDs featuring performances recorded on December 14–15, 1974, and was released by ATO Records on October 15, 2013.
Pure Jerry: Keystone Berkeley, September 1, 1974 is a three-CD set presenting a full concert by an earlier version of the band with Paul Humphrey on drums. This album was released by Pure Jerry Records on December 28, 2004.