Grateful Dead Lyricist Robert Hunter Dies

Grateful Dead lyricist and collaborator Robert Hunter, known for his vivid words on staples like "Ripple," "China Cat Sunflower," "Uncle John's Band" and many more died yesterday at the age of 78. No cause of death was given by his family, but he recently toured to help raise money for medical bills.  Jerry Garcia met Hunter in the early 1960's and asked him to join a jug band, which he refused. The two reunited in San Francisco, where Hunter wrote words to a Garcia instrumental, which later became "Dark Star." Bob Dylan will kick off a ten-day residency at New York City's Beacon Theater in November, his longest stint since his Greenwich Village days in the early 60's. And Sharon Van Etten reflects on her fifteen years making music in New York City in the short film documentary, Departure, which is out Thursday.