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New Riders of the Purple Sage Co-Founder John Dawson Dies at 64

Musician John "Marmaduke" Dawson, who along with Jerry Garcia co-founded country rock group the New Riders of the Purple Sage and wrote songs for the Grateful Dead, died Tuesday in Mexico from stomach cancer. He was 64 years old.

Born in Detroit, Dawson eventually moved to San Francisco in the mid-'60s and immersed himself in the burgeoning music scene. A guitar player, he joined Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, a band that included future Grateful Dead members Garcia, Bob Weir and Rod "Pigpen" McKernan. As the Dead went on to become a popular psychedelic rock act, Dawson continued writing country songs and in 1969, he founded the New Riders of the Purple Sage with David Nelson on electric guitars and Garcia on pedal steel.

The original New Riders lineup also included Dead bassist Phil Lesh and drummer Mickey Hart, a musical cross-pollination that allowed the bands to tour together cheaply. During that same time, Dawson appeared as a guest musician on three Dead albums, 'Aoxomoxoa,' 'Workingman's Dead' and 'American Beauty,' and co-wrote the song 'Friend of the Devil' with Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter.

In the early '70s, Dave Torbert replaced Lesh on bass and Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden took over for Hart, and the band released its self-titled debut in 1971. Their greatest success was the 1973 album, 'The Adventures of Panama Red,' which reached No. 55 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold.

Despite a rotating lineup, Dawson continued with the New Riders until retiring in 1997. He moved to Mexico to teach English, and when Nelson and Buddy Cage, the pedal steel player who replaced Garcia in late 1971, revived the group in the past few years, Dawson made the occasional guest appearance. On their official Website, the band released a statement saying "His songs inspired us in so many ways. His energy, passion and commitment to the New Riders brought us all so much joy over the years. We can all be thankful that his music and legacy will live on forever."

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58 Comments

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alp353

Hey where's room; you basically are not worth this rebutall; your hatred is coming straight thru, WE GOT IT! how dare you comment, on a scene you have never participated in. Your experience in life is undoubtably limited. you just wish you had lived the exstasy, love and enlightenment, fullfilment that us hippies have and continue to live. you are one sorry son of a Beetch!

July 04 2011 at 5:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
james bryant

My Tie-Dyes is always sad to hear such news. I have been so busy since last year that I forgot about his passing. Sad to lose another one of the greats. He is sorely missed. Think I'll put on some NRPS right now...Peace Tie Dyed Jim

August 25 2010 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jambandfreak

Those worthless hippies as rawkinthisdream put it are now pillars in community so Id watch your back someday you might be in a bad place with some of them

April 17 2010 at 6:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jambandfreak

Deadman is obviously no dead fan. If you knew Jerry at all you'd know that he respected all music and many musicians had a deep respect for him. The studio albums didn't compare to the stuff they did live. I agree that not all their early stuff is great but its still no reason to knock them at all. Hornsby, Dylan and all the rest were honored to jam with a group.
To actually attend a show was would ever compare to any other experience.
The sense of family in the Dead community is like nothing else ever experienced.

Don't be a hater just because you didn't like their work.
Be good family!! Maybe Deadman will come to see the light someday.

April 17 2010 at 6:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
angel

that last comment b4 this one, was reaching out to, (replying) to wheresroom237, dunno why it didn't show up that way, i hit the reply button 1st, oh well

July 29 2009 at 2:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
angel

it's ok if you don't like them, lotsa ppl didn't. but i disagree for sooooooo many reasons with yer comment. and if you ever saw them live, you wouldn't feel that way about them, i don't think. some bands are really better live, and this 1 is for sure 1 of those bands. and not to mention, their concerts, were also just a blast to go to. i went to many of 'em, and nada 1 disappointed.
also, it's not just about the dead, this article was also referring to the new riders of the purple sage, also another great band in their own right.
peace ^i^

July 29 2009 at 2:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
angel

whoa ppl, sheesh, where's the love??? s'ok, if you don't "get" the music, it's even ok if ya don't care for it, but don't put us that do down, that's not cool at all.
and to wheresroom237, brain dead homeless hippies????!!!! ouch, that's a lil harsh, i'm not brain dead, not homeless, but afraid i'll always have a soft-spot for the hippies. (and their music) was raised by them, and wouldn't have it any other way.
and to watsos-- rich white kids?? OMG!!! i wasn't rich, (actually, i'm still not ) but i'm totally cool with that. don't have to be rich or white to have a good time... thank god!!!
just enjoy the moment, enjoy the music, (whoever's music it is, that you tap yer toe to) just do it, live a peaceful, loving, fun filled life, surround yerself with great family and friends, awesome tunes, food, drink if ya want, partake of the panama red if ya wanna, but don't condemn anyone else for their life or the music they rock to, etc... enough of that crap already. now have a nice day
love and peace always ^i^

July 28 2009 at 2:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
watsos

Grateful Dead: Music BY rich white kids, FOR rich white kids.

July 25 2009 at 5:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to watsos's comment
angel

not at all, sorry, but you pegged this wrong.
peace tho ^i^

July 29 2009 at 2:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pat

New Riders of the Purple Sage. A group from long ago. I, being a little older than I care to admit, happened to be listening to a cd, playing "Panama Red", last night on my drive home from work.

John Dawson. If there IS a "rock & roll heaven", may you be taking it to the new levels you gave us down here for 30+ years.

July 25 2009 at 5:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Paxrail

Worthless and dippy... The Grateful Dead? Why even waste a response to a remark like this? Not worth the effort because someone who would say something like this is too insensitive to what real, down to earth, natural raw music and talent are and would be incapable of being taught anything new.

July 25 2009 at 4:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply