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Kevin Garcia (2003)

May 03, 2017 Grandaddy By Christopher Roberts Photography by Wendy Lynch Redfern (for Under the Radar)

Kevin Garcia, bassist and founding member of Grandaddy, has died. Garcia suffered a “massive stroke” on Monday and then passed away yesterday. In a Facebook post the band wrote: “There are no accurate words to express what we need to. We are absolutely shattered to say that we lost our friend and band mate Kevin Garcia early this afternoon. He succumbed to the effects of a massive stroke. We were all able to say goodbye to him and he was surrounded by his closest friends and family here in Modesto.”

The band’s post continued: “Kevin started playing with Grandaddy when he was fifteen. He was an actual angel. He navigated life with a grace, a generosity and a kindness that was utterly unique. And contagious. He is loved so deeply by so many. Kevin was a proud father of two children, Jayden and Gavin. He is survived by his grandmother Joan, his parents Randy and Barbara (who let us practice at their house until 2001…and who are the best), his brothers Craig and Jeff and his wife Sondra. We’ll have more to say in the days ahead. Right now the four of us are grieving together.”

After his stroke a GoFundMe page was set up by a friend of the family, Jessica Vanhille-Hart, to help raise money for his medical care. Now the page is looking for donations to help with funeral expenses and to benefit his family. A statement on the GoFundMe read: “Kevin passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family and friends. I really want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support. Every penny will go to Kevin’s wife, Sondra to be used for funeral expenses, hospital bills and for caring for their 2 young children.” You can donate here.

Grandaddy released a new album, Last Place, in March via 30th Century Records, a label run by Danger Mouse. It’s their first album in over a decade. The band have a special place with Under the Radar, as they were on the cover of our very first print magazine, way back in 2001. The article was in honor of their 2000-released masterpiece The Sophtware Slump. It’s been a long 11 years since the band’s last album, 2006’s Just Like the Fambly Cat, but Last Place was warmly received by critics and fans.

Below are the band’s Facebook statement and four videos from Grandaddy. Our thoughts go out to the band and Garcia’s family.

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