Robert Hunter, the man behind the Grateful Dead’s mystical lyrics, died at the age of 78 on Monday at his Northern California home.
On Tuesday, in a statement, his family said, “It is with great sadness we confirm our beloved Robert passed away yesterday night.” However, his family did not mention the cause of his death.
Grateful Dead’s members paid a tribute to Hunter on social media.
David Lemieux, Grateful Dead archivist, wrote, “For a man who provided us with so many meaningful words, the soundtrack to our lives, he’s left us a bit speechless with his passing. Robert Hunter has been just as integral a part of the legacy of the Grateful Dead as those who recorded the music to accompany his words.”
Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead drummer, wrote, “We loved Bob Hunter and will miss him unimaginably,” calling the lyricists a “visionary wordsmith extraordinaire” for the band. He added, “The Grateful Dead was his canvas and together we made magic.”
Hart added, “He explained the unexplainable and the words struck deep. He spun the stories, and he now rides a carpet headed straight to Jerry.”
Bob Weir, Grateful Dead guitarist, wrote on his Twitter account, “If I’m gonna count my blessings, Robert Hunter and his imagination are gonna be up at the top of that list. I think I can speak for a lot of people in saying that.”
Hunter wrote some of his band’s iconic songs, such as “Dark Star,” “Uncle John’s Band,” “Scarlet Begonias,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Truckin,” and “Touch of Grey.”
“Though he never played on stage with the Dead, he was indeed a member,” according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Hunter died with his wife, Maureen, at his side, to whom he married in 1982.
