Watch Phil Lesh perform “Sugar Magnolia” at the final live performance

Today is a Day of deep sadness and mourning for Deadheads around the world. Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh has died at the age of 84. “(He) passed away peacefully this morning,” his family said in a statement. “He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought great joy to everyone around him and leaves a legacy full of music and love. We ask that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”

The Grateful Dead bassist has struggled with health issues for many years, surviving prostate cancer in 2007 and bladder cancer in 2015. But all the while, Lesh never stopped making music. He celebrated his 84th birthday in March with a series of Phil Lesh and Friends shows at the Capitol Theater in Porter Chester, New York, headlined a May 9 performance at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, and then performed at McNears Beach Park in San Francisco on Rafael, California on July 21st. The latter show was the last concert of Lesh’s life.

The McNears Beach Phil Lesh and Friends concert took place on July 21, 1974, on the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s Hollywood Bowl show. And to celebrate the occasion, Lesh performed – along with drummer John Molo, keyboardist Jason Crosby, guitarist/vocalist Stanley Jordan, vocalist Elliott Peck, guitarist/vocalist Stu Allen, guitarist/vocalist Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz and Guitarist/vocalist Grahame Lesh – brought out many of the same songs the Dead played that day, only adding “Over The Rainbow” to the mix.

They finished 1970’s “Sugar Magnolia,” a song the Dead played over 600 times. “We have one more for you before curfew begins,” Lesh told the crowd. “I want to thank you all for coming here and joining us. If you’re at home with nothing to do, check out the Terrapin Clubhouse YouTube channel. We have lots of music for you and will be releasing a podcast in the fall.” Phil’s son Grahame then introduced the band and ended with his father. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Phil said afterwards, “because I get to play with these guys.”

When the group took the stage again at McNears Beach Park on August 18, Phil Lesh was nowhere to be seen. Sam Grisman, son of longtime Jerry Garcia collaborator David Grisman, played bass in his place. It was an ominous sign, but fans knew little about Lesh’s poor health until news of his death broke.

Lesh has experienced about 18 different lives in his 84 years on this planet. In this video from his last show he is visibly quite frail, but his playing remains exquisite. The group will hopefully continue with Grahame Lesh and Sam Grisman at the helm. As we learned after Garcia’s death in 1995, this music is bigger than any one person. It will live forever.