Jerry Garcia Band Vocalist Gloria Jones Passes Away

Famed vocalist Gloria Jones, who was a member of the Jerry Garcia Band from 1984 through Garcia’s death in 1995 has passed away. Jones died on Friday as per Gloria’s best friend and the woman that replaced her in the post-Jerry version of the band, Cheryl Rucker. A cause of death has yet to be revealed.

Gloria Jones joined the Jerry Garcia Band in 1984, solidifying a lineup of Jerry, bassist John Kahn, drummer David Kemper, organist Melvin Seals and fellow vocalist Jacklyn LaBranch. That lineup remained intact through 1995 with the exception of Kemper sitting out for a four-month period in 1985 – 1986 and the drummer leaving the band for good in 1994. Jones and LaBranch were known as “The Jerryettes” and helped give the group its soulful sound. Gloria took part in a handful of concerts honoring Jerry over the past few years including as a member of The Jerry Garcia Birthday Band that performed at Red Rocks in 2017 and Vail in 2018. The vocalist was supposed to take part in a pair of Like A Road tributes earlier this year, but backed out due to illness.

“It’s so sad to hear that Gloria Jones has passed away. She was a wonderful soul and I feel blessed she was my friend and bandmate. The countless hours we spent together on stage, in rehearsals, on the road and off…I have so many wonderful memories,” wrote Gloria’s long-time JGB band mate Melvin Seals. “I started with Jerry in 1980 and we decided to add vocalists. In 1984, Gloria Jones joined and the sweet sounds of Jaclyn LaBranch and Gloria Jones lifted us up, always. Love you Gloria. RIP.”

“We love you and will miss you, Gloria Jones. Thanks for the memories,” reads a note posted on the Jerry Garcia Facebook page.

Watch Gloria Jones sing “Waiting For A Miracle,”a song she proposed the group perform, with the Jerry Garcia Band in 1991:

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