GoFundMe Established for Grateful Dead’s Late Sixties-Era Member Tom “TC” Constanten
Photo: Cassidy Friedman
Tom “TC” Constanten, the Grateful Dead’s contributor on keys from 1968 to 1970, is asking for financial support through the launch of a GoFundMe campaign to assist in the coverage of his medical expenses. Notably, Constanten retired from the road in 2024, despite one-off appearances since his retirement, including participation in Relix’s 50th anniversary concert at Brooklyn Bowl New York in January of this year.
On the donation page, Constanten penned a message of intent:
Unlike some of my friends and acquaintances, my participation in the
Sixties parties didn’t bring me an abundance of wealth and fame.
Well… maybe a couple of dollops of fame, but wealth was scarce. And my
taxman adventure of a quarter century ago pretty much wiped all of that
Out.
One of the literary works that influenced me profoundly in my youth was
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay on self-reliance. It made me reluctant to
ask for help, even sometimes when it would’ve been justified. Like when
the taxman was on my case, garnishing my wages and attaching my bank
Account.
Circumstances this time have forced my hand. At $250 a pop, the copays
are coming thick and fast. And this is before the anticipated Medicare
cuts have taken hold.
I’m still carrying on as usual, but I believe the X-rays, CAT scans, PET
scans, MRIs, and all.
Next week the radiation therapy commences.
I count my wealth in friends, and they have been so generous over the years it boggles my mind. It makes me reluctant to ask for more.
Constanten’s association with the Grateful Dead extends back to his stage debut with the ensemble on November 23, 1968, at the Memorial Auditorium in Athens, Ohio. He remained a fixture of the group’s live and studio sound, contributing to three album cycles: 1968’s Anthem of the Sun, 1969’s Aoxomoxoa, and their fan-loved live album, 1969’s Live Dead, receiving praise for his contributions on “Dark Star.”
Constanten’s arrival coincided with Ron “Pigpen” McKern’s failing health status, allowing the band to keep up their performance regimen while also acknowledging the needs of their original keyboardist, who passed away on March 8, 1973.
During his final chapter with the Dead, Contanten took part in the notorious January 31, 1970, concert in New Orleans, his final with the band. This occasion informed the group’s iconic track “Truckin’” after their bust on Bourbon Street. Notably, he appeared with the famed group once more, on April 28, 1971, at New York’s Fillmore East, in what became known as Ladies and Gentlemen… the Grateful Dead record.
Despite a short stint with the group, Constanten was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the Dead in 1994. Following his performance history with the San Francisco jamband, Constanten accentuated his musical aspirations by performing and contributing to Jefferson Starship, Dose Hermanos, Terrapin Flyers, and Jazz Is Dead.
At the time of publication, the GoFundMe campaign has reached 30% of its total financial goal. To help Tom Constanten, please consider donating now.
Read our 2023 conversation, Tom Constanten: Dark Stars, Dead Bolts and Dose Hermanos.