Ron "Pigpen" McKernan

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan
McKernan in 1968
Background information
Birth name	Ronald Charles McKernan
Also known as	Pigpen, Blue Ron
Born	(1945-09-08)September 8, 1945 San Bruno, California, U.S.[1]
Origin	Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Died	March 8, 1973(1973-03-08) (aged 27) Corte Madera, California, U.S.[1]
Genres	Blues rock psychedelia rhythm and blues gospel
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter
Instrument(s)	Keyboards organ harmonica vocals guitar
Years active	1961–1972
Labels	Warner Bros. Records

Ronald Charles McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973), known as Pigpen, was an American musician. He was a founding member of the San Francisco band the Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972.^[2]

McKernan grew up heavily influenced by African-American music, particularly the blues, and enjoyed listening to his father's collection of records and taught himself how to play harmonica and piano. He began socializing around the San Francisco Bay Area, becoming friends with Jerry Garcia. After the pair had played in various folk and jug bands, McKernan suggested they form an electric group, which became the Grateful Dead. He was the band's original frontman and played harmonica and electric organ, but Garcia and bassist Phil Lesh's influences on the band became increasingly stronger as they embraced psychedelic rock. McKernan struggled to keep up with the changing music, causing the group to hire keyboardist Tom Constanten, with McKernan's contributions essentially limited to vocals, harmonica, and percussion from November 1968 to January 1970. He continued to be a frontman in concert for some numbers, including his interpretations of Bobby Bland's "Turn On Your Love Light" and the Rascals' "Good Lovin'".

Unlike the other members of the Grateful Dead, McKernan avoided psychedelic drugs, preferring to drink alcohol (namely whiskey and flavored fortified wine). By 1971, his health had been affected by alcoholism and liver damage and doctors advised him to stop touring. Following a hiatus, he resumed touring with the group in December 1971 but was forced to retire from touring altogether in June 1972. McKernan was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage on March 8, 1973, aged 27, and is buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto.