Merl Saunders (sometimes spelled Merle), born February 14, 1934 in San Mateo, California, is an American multi-genre musician who plays piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B3 organ. Merl Saunders died on the morning of October 24, 2008 from complications involving an infection.

In the 1970s, Saunders began collaborating with Jerry Garcia, with the Grateful Dead and with Garcia's bands The Legion of Mary and Reconstruction.

He's led his own bands, as Merl Saunders and Friends, playing live dates with Garcia, as well as Mike Bloomfield, David Grisman, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn and Sheila E.

In 1990 he released the world music and New Age classic album Blues From the Rainforest, a collaboration with Jerry Garcia and Muruga Booker. This led to the release of a video which chronicled Saunders' journey to the Amazon, and the subsequent album Fiesta Amazonica.

He has worked with musicians Paul Pena, Bonnie Raitt, Phish, Miles Davis, and B.B. King. Merl also recorded with The Dinosaurs, a "supergroup" of first-generation Bay Area rock musicians.

He has his own record label, Sumertone and has also recorded on Fantasy Records, Galaxy Records and Relix Records as well as the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia labels. He worked with the Grateful Dead on the theme music for the 1985 TV show The New Twilight Zone, and with Mickey Hart on the score for the show. His son Merl Saunders Jr. is a senior executive director of The Recording Academy.

In 2002, Merl suffered from a stroke that paralyzed one side of his body and curtailed his musical career. Sadly Merl passed away the morning of Friday October 24, 2008 from complications related to the stroke which he suffered in 2002

The family appreciates all the well wishes.

Condolences can be sent to: The Saunders Family PO Box 22184 San Francisco, CA 94123

Merl's projects have withstood the tests of time and are well worth looking for.