The keepers of the Grateful Dead's history
NPR • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The University of California, Santa Cruz houses a vast Grateful Dead archive, including nearly a thousand boxes of memorabilia and original artwork, accessible to fans and researchers alike.
- The Grateful Dead's extensive live performance recordings, known as "The Vault," contain over 2,300 shows captured since 1966, showcasing the band's improvisational style and evolving sound.
- Archivist David Lemieux manages the band's audio legacy, continuing the work of his predecessor Dick Latvala, who began organizing and releasing the band's live recordings to fans.
- Sound engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson's high-quality live recordings, known as "Betty Boards," have been recognized for their artistic and historical significance, including inclusion in the Library of Congress.
- Rhino Entertainment curates and releases the band's archival material, producing elaborate box sets like the complete Europe '72 tour, reflecting the band's unique approach to preserving and sharing their musical legacy.
