Legendary singer Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead rock band died Wednesday morning at Serenity Knolls chemical dependency facility in Forest Knolls.
A Serenity Knolls counselor found Garcia dead in his room at 4:23 a.m., a sheriff's spokesman said.
An on-staff nurse administered CPR but was unable to revive the 53-year-old musician. Fire paramedics also tried unsuccessfully to revive Garcia and then pronounced him "dead at the scene," the spokesman said.
"Shaken and distraught," other members of the Grateful Dead believe Garcia suffered a heart attack, band manager Dennis McNally said.
Garcia had suffered health problems for several years and, in 1986, survived a diabetic coma. He fell ill again in 1992 and had to cancel a number of shows.
"Jerry had his problems over the years with substances, but he had amazing resilience. The music kept him alive," noted John Grissim of Point Reyes Station, a former editor of Rolling Stone magazine.
Although he was a longtime Mill Valley resident, Garcia built a home in Nicasio only to put it on the market last year after using it for only a few months.
The five-bedroom house with swimming pool was originally priced at $2.1 million and still has not sold.
Other band members have also lived in West Marin, including his former wife, Mountain Girl (Caroline Walker), who lived in Dogtown.
Garcia has been one of rock music's the most popular singers and musicians, performing with The Grateful Dead up to 85 times per year.
The Grateful Dead entourage, 30 fulltime employees in all, has been grossing $50 million a year, noted McNally.
Garcia is survived by his recent bride, Carolyn Koons; four daughters ranging in age from six to 32: Heather, Annabelle, Keelin, and Teresa; and an older brother, Clifford "Tiff" Garcia.
It is not known whether The Grateful Dead will cancel Bay Area shows scheduled for October, McNally said. There is already talk of a special memorial show, he said.