Just three miles off Michigan State University’s campus, members of the faculty and community gathered in The Avenue Cafe on a rainy Sunday afternoon to commemorate a day 55 years ago.
Members of every generation tapped their feet and bobbed their heads through a bustling, blue-lit haze to the music played by three Grateful Dead tribute bands. The event titled “Jenison 55,” celebrated the Grateful Dead’s March 13, 1971 performance at MSU’s Jenison Field House.
Fascinated by the 1971 performance, was tribute band Quality Jerry’s drummer and curator of rare books in MSU Library’s Special Collections Unit, Tad Boehmer. The original performance was and still is so coveted because there is no found tape of it…