In a fitting tribute to one of the most iconic bands in music history, MusiCares has announced the Grateful Dead as its 2025 Persons of the Year. The honor comes as the band prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, with original members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir set to receive recognition for their contributions to both music and philanthropy. The special event, part of Grammy Week, will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 31st, 2025 and include a posthumous tribute to founding member Jerry Garcia.
In a statement, Bill Kreutzmann expressed his awe at the journey that has brought the Grateful Dead to this moment. “None of us would have ever guessed that, sixty years later, the surviving band members would be the honorees of the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year award. That’s pretty far out! And extraordinary,” he wrote, adding that while Jerry may not have been one for “pomp and circumstance,” he believes the tributes will be filled with a mix of “tears, laughs, winks, smiles… and memories.”
MusiCares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of music professionals, plays a crucial role in the music industry. Through initiatives that provide mental health resources, addiction recovery, and financial assistance to those in need, MusiCares has become a lifeline for artists facing hardship. Proceeds from the benefit gala will go directly toward funding these efforts, making the Grateful Dead’s recognition not only a celebration of their musical legacy but also a meaningful contribution to the next generation of artists.
The Grateful Dead will also be among those celebrated at the 47th Kennedy Center Honors in December 2024. If Kreuzmann, Hart, Lesh, and Weir make an appearance together, it will be the core four’s first reunion since the 2015 Fare Thee Well concerts at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
With six decades of music behind them, the Grateful Dead’s influence is undeniable. From their counterculture roots in the ’60s to their continued relevance in the modern music scene, the band remains a touchstone of American culture. The MusiCares Persons of the Year award is not just a reflection of the group’s past accomplishments, but a testament to its ongoing impact on the world of music and beyond.
As Kreutzmann put it, “The long, strange trip continues!” And for the Grateful Dead, that trip shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
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