Now I know we’re all familiar with the game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” but it turns out this formula works in the musical world as well. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Jerry and because of that I don’t recall exactly how I stumbled across the Grateful Dead Family Discography website but its there that I found a thin thread that links me to Jerry; It goes something like this:

Jerry played in the band “Old & In The Way” with Peter Rowan.
Peter Rowan played Mandola on the “Farmer Not So John” album “Receiver”.
I too played on the “Receiver” album, pedal steel as I recall but this listing gives me credit for playing pedal and lap steel. Considering the fact that I’ve never owned a lap steel I’m pretty sure I only played pedal steel. The lap steel they’re talking about would have most certainly been played by Richard McLaurin.

So technically I guess I’m less than six degrees from Jerry. Depending on how you count it seems closer to three and a half.