The Grateful Dead Named MusiCares 2024 Person Of The Year

The Grateful Dead will be MusiCares’ Person of the Year in 2025, in celebration of the band’s 60th anniversary, its contributions to music, tireless philanthropy and pioneering role in fostering communities through concerts and activism.

Original members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bobby Weir will be recognized at the MusiCares benefit gala Jan. 31 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, including posthumous tributes to Grateful Dead co-founder Jerry Garcia.

The MusiCares benefit takes place two nights before the 67th annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena and is sponsored by AEG. The purchase of tickets and tables supports MusiCares vital programs and relief efforts that serve as a safety net for the music community.  Tickets and tables can be purchased HERE.

“MusiCares is proud to honor the Grateful Dead at the 2025 Persons of the Year Gala,” said MusiCares Executive Director Laura Segura. “Their legacy transcends music, having built a community of fans and collaborators that embody the spirit of connection and support, something that is deeply aligned with MusiCares’ mission. The band’s passion for the arts and philanthropy, along with their enduring commitment to social causes, has made a lasting impact that goes beyond the stage. It is a privilege to celebrate their contributions to both music and humanity.” 

The Grateful Dead’s long history and legacy date back to 1965, San Francisco’s fertile music scene at the onset of the psychedelic era, and extends to its touring and ticketing innovations, including development of possibly the first concert ticket mail-order system and the traveling community of Deadheads. For many summers, the Grateful Dead was the country’s top concert draw. All told, the Grateful Dead performed a world record-breaking 2,318 total concerts, and released 61 Top 40 albums.

The Grateful Dead will be among the recipients of the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors during a gala celebration in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 8. In 2007, the band was honored with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing their unparalleled contributions to the music industry. 

Beyond their musical achievements, the Grateful Dead members have made significant contributions to philanthropic causes. Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, and Weir have all supported efforts ranging from environmental conservation and mental health to music education and social justice. 

Initiatives like Garcia’s involvement with the Rex Foundation, Hart’s work in music therapy and brain health, Weir’s advocacy for addressing climate change and combating poverty, Kreutzmann’s ocean conservation efforts, and Lesh’s Unbroken Chain Foundation underscore the band’s commitment to making a difference beyond the stage. 

In a statement, Weir, Hart, Kreutzmann and Lesh jointly said: 

“It’s simple: we all need music. It speaks to each of us, offering what we need to face what life presents—enhancing our joys, helping us spread them, and making our sorrows easier to bear. We can’t imagine a world without it. As our ol’ pal, Jerry, used to say, ‘You get some, you give some back,’ a tremendously effective way to share those benefits.

“While we can’t prove that the Muse—the force behind what we do—is working to build a support system for the show, over 60 years in music has taught us that it takes a lot of dedicated people to bring everything to life. Each person behind the scenes has honed their skills to meet the many needs of the show. Without them, it wouldn’t be what the Muse intends, and each of them is essential, pouring their hearts and spirits into it.

“We also want to recognize the community of Dead Heads for their unwavering support over the years—we wouldn’t be here without you.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as MusiCares Persons of the Year. This honor is truly a testament to the legacy of the music, which has always been bigger than us—it’s about the connection between us, the crew, and all those who’ve been on this long strange trip. It’s not just about what we create, but about making sure the people behind it, behind us every night, the ones who quietly make it all happen, get the support they need to keep going, no matter what life throws at them.  We’re grateful to stand with MusiCares and hope everyone continues to support this vital mission to ensure music thrives in perpetuity.” 

The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during Grammy Week. It includes a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner and tribute concert featuring renowned musicians and other artists paying homage to the Grateful Dead’s profound influence and philanthropy. 

Since its inception in 1991, the Person of the Year gala has raised funds to support MusiCares’ health and human services programs, which offer physical and mental health care, addiction recovery, preventive clinics, unforeseen personal emergencies, and disaster relief to music professionals. The Grateful Dead joins an impressive list of recent MusiCares honorees, including Jon Bon Jovi, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, and Joni Mitchell. 

The event will again be produced by live event broadcast outfit Lewis & Clark, made up of Joe Lewis and R.A. Clark. Don Was will join the special evening as Musical Director.