(L.A.) Robert Gerson, 74, Died in a Vehicle

Case Number: 2023-01264

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 74-year-old Caucasian male that occurred in a vehicle.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Robert Gerson.

Manner of Death: Natural

Cause of Death: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

RIP ROBERT GERSON (April 10, 1948 – January 31, 2023)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Tuesday at 6:32 p.m.

The decedent recorded with Jimi Hendrix in 1970 on ‘The Cry Of Love’ album under the name of GERS. The album went Gold and was on three different record labels — Warner Bros., Polydor, and Track Records.

In 1965-1966, I was playing music in Greenwich Village clubs Café Wha?, Nite Owl Café, Café Au Go Go, Village Gate etc. Then in 1967-68 I moved to being in the House Band of the “Village Theater” (Fillmore East). I would jam at ‘The Scene’ and always had a good time. In early ‘68 I got a call from Bunny Jones a music manager from the Brill Building who said Jimi wanted me to come up the ‘Scene’ there he asked me if like to play harp on some Blues cuts. So after the Scene we went to Sound Center where we recorded ‘My Friend’. In late 1970 after Jimi had passed away I got a phone call from Mitch Mitchell saying he and Eddie Kramer found my name on the Box of a tape they were planning to use and could I come over to Electric Lady Studios and give it a listen. I showed up with Dale Frank my lead guitarist who was good friends with Mitch. Sure enough it was ‘My Friend’ that I had recorded with Jimi 2 years before I had given all of my information back then to Bob Levine who was in Jimi’s front office (Michael Jeffery) Bob had some how squeezed my legal name out of me and SSN for Warner Bros.(Reprise). My guitarist and I were invited by Mitch to England in Dec. 1970 to play music. We flew over with Eric Barrett (Jimi’s Road manager) and were met at Heathrow by Gerry Stickells (Touring manager) who took us to Mitch’s house in Sussex. We spent Christmas with Mitch which is why I received my letter from Hohner at the American Embassy. The Gold Album was okayed for by Warner Bros. (Reprise). Yes the AFM & AFTRA also had my legal name (Robert Gerson) and SSN. this was submitted to them at the time of the recording, in their records from 40 years ago.

“Born in Southern England. Picked up music from the womb. Avid blues record collector (2,000 blues LP’s). Acquired his first harmonica at age 4 at a Rockaway Playland penny arcade near the beach. Practiced 14 hours a day until his mouth bled. Gers was the first and last mod Bohemian blues rocker from the Village. Played and jammned with Dylan, Lovin’ Spoonful, Cream, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Jimmy James & the Flames, Jimi Hendrix, among others. Split to England, met up with Jimi again and recorded several albums with him, the most famous Cry of Love. When Jimi left us, formed group with Mitch Mitchell, played Speasy, Roundhouse Country Club, Marquee, etc. 3 – Piece Power Band. Then Played with Jack Bruce, Dick Heckstall Smith, Chris Farlowe, Buddy Miles, Felix Parpalardi and Elvin Bishop. Gers then made the organic scene in Mill Valley where he teamed up with the S.F. Sound Makers, Boz Skaggs, Bishop, John Mayall, etc. Split to Jamaica, learned beats mon, and came back reggae oriented with a ska bass beat unduplicated by none. Gers, a living legend, surviving 2 near-fatal car crashes, from the Fillmore West to Surrey England.”