Considering the sheer number of stars who've come out of California, our selection of Jerry Garcia here might surprise you. Allow us the chance to explain our decision! Garcia's greatest contribution to the world of music was The Grateful Dead. They'd be considered a cult band by modern standards, but their influence within California was without parallel. The north of California was all about counter-culture during the 1960s, and the Grateful Dead were the soundtrack to that movement.
Garcia's was a star that burned brightly. For the whole of his musical career, he was a very heavy drinker, smoker, and user of psychoactive drugs. Although he attempted to clean up later in his life, the damage was already done, and he passed away from a heart attack in 1995 at the age of 53. His legacy and legend endure - especially in San Francisco, where you'll see plenty of wall-art and other tributes dedicated to his memory.