Former Grateful Dead keyboardist Saunders dies at 74

Keyboardist Merl Saunders, has died at the age of 74 from complications after suffering a stroke six years ago. The 2002 stroke paralyzed one side of his body and curtailed his musical career.

According to Reuters, his family paid tribute to the jazz and rock musician, whose favored instrument was the Hammond B3 organ, in a statement on his web site, saying they were sad to lose him and comforted by the affection from his fans.

"Merl Saunders stood for music and love - his smile alone told you that," said the statement.

"He was a special man, a beautiful companion, father, grandfather, and family patriarch, and the proof of that spirit is in the way you've reached out to us at his passing."

The family said a memorial service would be held on October 29 in San Francisco for Saunders who was a band mate of Johnny Mathis through junior high school and recorded with a list of top musicians including Miles Davis and B.B King.

According to his MySpace Saunders became the first recipient of the lifetime activist award from a Florida environmentalist group for his environmental activism in 2000.

Saunders has contributed to many artists including Betty Davis, David Soul, and Tom Fogerty.