Happy Birthday Robert Hunter: Performing Live

Robert Hunter was born in Arroyo Grande, California on this date in 1941. As Jerry Garcia‘s longtime songwriting partner, the lyricist and poet worked extensively with the Grateful Dead. As the band’s beloved, late bandleader once described, Hunter was, “the band member who doesn’t come out on stage with us.” However, the lyricist did join the band during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, making him the only non-performer to ever receive such an honor. Sadly, Hunter died last September leaving behind an incredible legacy.

Outside of the Grateful Dead, Hunter continued to write lyrics, creating compositions for both his own solo efforts as well as for a huge range of collaborators. While he came to fame as Jerry Garcia’s friend and lyricist, he went on to work with Bob Dylan, Little Feat, David Nelson, Bruce Hornsby and others. Of course, his songs with the Dead will always be his most treasured, as he is credited with iconic and poetic songs like “Brokedown Palace,” “Box of Rain,” Casey Jones,” “China Cat Sunflower,” “Franklin’s Tower,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Ripple,” “St. Stephen,” “Sugaree,” “Sugar Magnolia,” “Truckin'” and countless more.

Over the last few years of his life, Hunter continued to gain critical recognition for his contributions to music. In 2013, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. Two years later, he was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, receiving the acknowledgment with Trixie Garcia, who accepted her father’s posthumous award.

While his lyrics are renowned, Hunter was a singer-songwriter as well. He met Garcia in the early ’60s in the Bay Area, where the two performed in bluegrass bands together. However, Hunter only rarely performed live across his career, offering up brief runs that seemed particularly skimpy in contrast to the Grateful Dead’s aggressive schedules. In honor of Robert Hunter’s birthday, below is a series of clips from Hunter’s own live shows.

Robert Hunter & Comfort – “Rose of Sharon” (3/17/1978) Shared by (Folk & Country on MV)

In 1974 and 1975, Hunter released his first two solo albums, Tales of the Great Rum Runners and Tiger Rose. In 1978, Hunter took his band Comfort on the road to serve as support for the Jerry Garcia Band.

For the outing, he tapped guitarist Kevin Morgenstern, violin/mandolin/banjo player Rodney Albin, drummer Pat Lorenzano, bassist Larry Klien, keyboardist Ozzie Ahlers and vocalists Marleen Molle and Kathleen Klein to round out the group’s lineup. They would tour across the spring, before Hunter once again retreated from the spotlight and focused on writing over live performances.

Watch Hunter and Comfort perform “Rose of Sharon,” a song off Hunter’s sophomore solo release Tiger Rose, below. The video was captured on March 17, 1978, at the Passaic, New Jersey venue The Capitol Theatre:

Jerry Garcia Band with Robert Hunter – “Promontory Rider” (3/1/1980) Shared by Grateful Dead on MV

In 1978, Hunter completed his third studio album Alligator Moon, though the collection was never officially released. However, one track off the LP, “Promontory Rider,” still made its way into the world relatively soon after it was written. In addition to live performances, it was ultimately released on 1982’s Promontory Rider, giving name to the retrospective compilation.

Though part of the lyricist’s solo catalog, Jerry Garcia Band picked up the tune during their 1980 tour. Across the year, the band would cover the number semi-regularly, with Hunter himself frequently sitting-in. Watch Robert Hunter collaborate with Jerry Garcia Band for “Promontory Rider” on March 1, 1980 during a show at The Capitol Theatre below:

Robert Hunter – “Ripple” (4/5/2003) Shared by doug hagman

In 2003, Bob Dylan and The Dead teamed up for a brief leg of tour in the summer. Hunter was tapped as the first opener of the run, with Dylan then going on to support The Dead nightly. In 1988, Hunter began co-writing songs with Dylan, with their collaborations appearing on 1988’s Down in the Groove.

To prepare for the outing, Hunter began touring as a solo artist before his summer run with The Dead. For example, the famed poet stopped at Madison, Wisconsin’s Barrymore Theater in early April, offering up an intimate and lively show. Watch his performance of “Ripple” from April 5, 2003 below:

Robert Hunter – “Bertha” (10/5/2013) Shared by Robert Hunter

In 2013, Hunter once again returned to the road, surprising fans with his announcement that he’d embark on a tour that fall. Given that Hunter had rarely toured in the past, and that most appearances were irregular one-off shows, fans flocked to the eight-performance run. As he said at the time, “I began thinking about touring again and started working on my guitar playing … and the more I played the more I was reminded of the special joy that connecting with an audience brings. And I realized I missed it. It’s time to hit the road.”

Hunter shared video featuring his performance of the fan-favorite “Bertha” at The Capitol Theatre on October 5, 2013. The show came toward the end of the singer’s brief tour, ahead of final shows in Boston and New York City. Watch here:

Robert Hunter – “The Wind Blows High” (7/21/2014)Shared by Robert Hunter

The next year, Hunter once again returned to the stage, albeit in a less dramatic fashion. Instead of touring on the road, the famed Grateful Dead lyricist instead offered up a three-night residency at New York City’s City Winery. The run also kicked off a period of non-performance from Hunter, with the poet only occasionally appearing in the years since at select festivals or to accept awards.

See his take on “The Wind Blows High,” which was first introduced during his spring 1997 solo tour, below:

[Originally Published: June 23, 2019]