Melvin Seals in Menlo Park

Melvin Seals is an American keyboardist and organist, born in San Francisco in 1953, whose soul, gospel and rock playing became a central part of the Jerry Garcia Band sound. He joined Garcia’s group in 1980 and is heard on the live albums Jerry Garcia Band and How Sweet It Is. Seals toured with the Jerry Garcia Band until 1995, including the 1987 Broadway engagement at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. He also played the group’s Eel River concerts in 1987, 1989 and 1991, later released as Electric on the Eel. After Garcia’s death, he carried the repertoire forward under the name Melvin Seals & JGB. Melvin Seals & JGB performs as a full electric band centered on his Hammond B-3, drawing set lists from the Jerry Garcia Band songbook and its mix of rock, soul, gospel and reggae.