As tribute poured out from users online, Lesh’s surviving bandmates Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and even the family of late member Jerry Garcia penned heartfelt messages.

One of the first rock bassists whose instrument regularly took a lead role, he also had a hand in writing some of the band’s best-known songs.

An untraditional bass player who was enamored of John Coltrane, Lesh gave the band a unique twist on rock ’n’ roll