Luther Dickinson’s roots run deep on both sides of this project: as a Son of the North Mississippi Allstars and a veteran of the fertile intersection between Delta blues and psychedelic rock, he’s spent decades proving those worlds were never far apart to begin with. The Grateful Dead’s own deep well of traditional blues and folk source material, songs that Garcia and the band drew from Leadbelly, Reverend Gary Davis, and the broader American vernacular tradition, makes this pairing feel less like a concept and more like an inevitability.

While playing for Phil Lesh, I became friends with his son, Grahame, and we started booking shows called Dead Blues, a Phil and Friends offshoot that used the traditional blues and folk songs from the Dead catalog as a vehicle to bring new musicians from the blues and rock scene into Phil’s orbit. For example, we brought Phil together for the first time with the Blind Boys of Alabama, Charlie Musselwhite, G Love, JD Simo and many others new to Phil’s community.Dead Blues was a great concept for live shows but I never considered making an album until I met singer Datrian Johnson, one of the most moving singers I’ve ever worked with. John Medeski brought Datrian into the community and we instantly became friends and collaborators and began recording the songs on Dead Blues Volume 1, reinterpreting the American classics.The tracks feature North Mississippi Alumni Cody Dickinson and Rayfield “Ray Ray” Hollowman, as well as old friends from Memphis, Paul Taylor/New Memphis Colorways also on drums, bass and guitars and Steve Selvidge on Space Funk guitar. I found that writing the music on bass (then adding keys and guitar) led the music down a funky, jazzy avenue and Datrian worked his magic, reinterpreting the classic blues lyrics and melodies with his soulful vocals.

Tracklist

Side A

1.One Kind of Favor2.Who Do You Love3.Sitting on Top of the World4.King Bee5.Mystery Train

Side B

1.Minglewood Blues2.I Just Want to Make Love to You3.Little Red Rooster4.High Heeled Sneakers

UPC: 607396028139
Label: Strolling Bones Recs
Release Date: 10.17.25
Format: LP Vinyl