For Immediate Release
Contact: Jerry Garcia Amphitheater Dedication Committee
Tel: 415/585-8005
e-mail: jgdedication@aol.com
SAN FRANCISCO HONORS NATIVE SON - ROCK LEGEND JERRY GARCIA
October 8, 2005
San Francisco
Never to be forgotten, local (Excelsior District) legend and one of the founders of the quintessential rock band, THE GRATEFUL DEAD, JERRY GARCIA; will be fondly remembered on Saturday, October 29th, from 11am to 5pm, when the amphitheater in McLaren Park is officially dedicated.
The Honorable Mayor Gavin Newsom will present an official proclamation naming the amphitheater in Jerry's honor. The event will be hosted by Master of Ceremonies Wavy Gravy, with the special exclusive appearance of the THE JEFFERSON STARSHIP & JEFFERSON FAMILY FAMILY GALACTIC REUNION, Grapefruit Ed Acoustic, Little Wheels Band, Mystery Cats, Michael John Ahern and Jerry Rigged (members of the Flying Other Brothers and Pete Harris). Special Guests include David Gans and noted music writer Ben Fong-Torres.
Everyone has graciously donated their time and talents for this "only in San Francisco" extraordinary event.
The idea to honor Jerry with a lasting monument in the city of his birth began over 10 years ago when Friends of McLaren Park floated the idea to name the undesignated amphitheater in McLaren Park for our famous native son. The project ran into some obstacles and was dropped but not forgotten. When the playground in Crocker-Amazon Park was in need of a major rebuild in 2001, the Jerry Garcia Estate generously donated some of Jerry's doodles and artwork for a design to be used on a fundraising T-shirt. Hundreds of these green T-shirts can be seen on the backs of Excelsior residents who proudly bought them to help their park and to remember Jerry. In 2003 what began as a"little picnic" to celebrate Jerry's birthday and to showcase an event at the amphitheater, has now become a local success story. Over 2,000 music fans and revelers came to "share the lov" at the third annual Jerry Day birthday celebration and free concert held this past August.
Weeks earlier the Recreation and Parks Commission passed the resolution to grant the name change. It was just in time for the 10th anniversary remembrance of the death of Jerry Garcia. The communities surrounding the park, the Excelsior, Portola, Crocker-Amazon and Visitation Valley, happily endorsed the naming by signing petitions, gathering support of neighborhood associations and lobbying everyone. Now a wonderful performance venue has an impressive name and a local hero has a fitting honor. A "win-win" for all.
An accomplishment of this nature deserves a formal dedication and all the attention that can be heaped on the overlooked City treasure, McLaren Park. Excellent natural acoustics, and fabulous views of our fair city await all those who make their way to the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in San Francisco's second largest park.
The event is being organized by a coalition of neighborhood groups and individuals, the District 10 and 11 Councils, Friends of McLaren Park, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Commission and Department, with funding support from San Francisco Parks Trust.
The dedication and celebration of the JERRY GARCIA AMPHITHEATER will be held on Saturday October 29th, from11am to 5PM. The event is free to the public. All proceeds from the sale of food, souvenirs and special auction items will be used for funding the event and future amphitheater improvements.
Donations are most appreciated, please make checks payable to San Francisco Parks Trust. Attention: Amphitheater Dedication Fund. With the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater dedication on Saturday and the musical tribute to Family Dog Founder, Chet Helms the following day in Golden Gate Park, could we be in for a "Summer of Love" weekend?
The Jerry Garcia Amphitheater is located on John F. Shelley Drive, John McLaren Park. For more info visit: www.jgamp.org or email: jgdedication@aol.com
