Merl Saunders

Keyboardist Merl Saunders' career has taken some pretty interesting twists in the past three decades. From a travelling variety show with Jerry Garcia to writing the score for "Fritz the Cat" (among other films), Saunders has proven to be one of the hardest-working musicians in the industry, frequently playing 200+ dates a year. Though Saunders has been around for quite some time, he's probably best known for his 1990 effort with Garcia, Blues from the Rainforest and his subsequent work with the Rainforest Band. Tending toward a slick, mystical sound with tribal overtones, Saunders' music promises to be a force in World Fusion for years to come.