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Former Grateful Dead keyboardist Merl Saunders died on Friday (October 24) at age 74.

The renowned musician who also collaborated with the likes of Miles Davis, Bonnie Raitt and BB King during his lengthy career, reportedly died from complications due to a stroke at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco.

Saunders initially suffered a stroke in 2002, which paralysed one side of his body and inhibited him from pursuing his music.

During his career, Saunders also collaborated with The Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia on several other projects, including The Legion Of Mary and Reconstruction.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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