Phil Lesh

Phillip Chapman Lesh (born March 15, 1940 in Berkeley, California) was a founding member of the band Grateful Dead, and played bass guitar in the band throughout their entire 30-yea

Phillip Chapman Lesh (born March 15, 1940 in Berkeley, California) was a founding member of the band Grateful Dead, and played bass guitar in the band throughout their entire 30-year career.

Lesh started out as a trumpet player with a keen interest in avant-garde classical music and free jazz; he studied under the Italian modernist Luciano Berio (a classmate was the minimalist composer Steve Reich). While still a college student he met then-bluegrass banjo player Jerry Garcia. They formed a friendship and eventually Lesh was talked into becoming the bass guitarist for Garcia's new rock group, then known as the Warlocks. He joined them for their third or fourth gig (memories vary) and stayed until the end.