A Moment with Merl Saunders Jr.
August 18th, 2006
Hammond B3 player Merl Saunders has recorded with numerous renowned artists since the early ’70s and has led many of his own dates in a variety of genres from jazz to blues to new age to rock. Born on Valentine’s Day, 1934 in San Mateo, CA, Saunders began learning to play the piano at the age of 10. He was a classmate and bandmate of Johnny Mathis through junior high school. Saunders decided on music as a profession after seeing how much fun was had by audience and performers alike at concerts by such musicians as Cab Calloway. He apprenticed early on with Jimmy Smith for a time, and attended various music schools. Starting in the 1960s, Saunders collaborated on and off with Jerry Garcia, and the Grateful Dead. He also began working as a jazz keyboardist in the early ’70s, and since has performed and recorded with Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt and Paul Butterfield. One of his several albums with Jerry Garcia, Blues From the Rainforest, hit the Top 5 of the U.S. Billboard New Age charts in the early ’90s.
If you don’t already know, you need to find out. Check out the MERL SAUNDERS WEBSITE.
Listen to my conversation with Merl Saunders Jr. Here.
August 18th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Yo man diggin the Merl, had no idea how many different artist he worked with that is funkin’ incredible! good talk with Merl jr Imagine growing up in his house as a kid seems like a dream come true man!
August 20th, 2006 at 4:35 am
Had the opportunity to listen to this on air. Man, I am one of many who didn’t realize how many people Merl Saunders has worked with. This was a real education for me.
Thanks for bringing such an interesting look into the music we usually only hear.
Rob B
August 25th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
As always…I thank you for tuning in and taking a moment to leave a comment.
Enjoy the next conversation.
October 23rd, 2006 at 6:12 am
man i didnt realize how many people were in Merls circle, he had alot of good friends no wonder he including them on many of his albums
November 9th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
yo yo i be feelin this funky funk god merl yeah u know he da man! who knew he worked with all those cool catz? yeah jr. is a hip cat himself keep it funky