Merl Saunders'
75th Birthday Bash
(A Memorial and Celebration of Merl's life!)

Date: Saturday, February 14, 2009

Doors: 7:30 PM
Show: 8:30 PM

Tickets: On Sale Sunday, January 4
$25
General Admission

Dinner Ticket $49.95
(sample menu here)

Download ticket fax form here

Tickets available on-line at gamhtickets.com

Charge by phone at
1-888-233-0449

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.