For the first time since Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, the remaining members of the Grateful Dead will begin touring together again this month. Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Garcia began playing music together nearly 40 years ago. And several generations of "Dead Heads" will not doubt welcome the band back.

Percussionist Mickey Hart is probably best known for his tenure with the Grateful Dead, but Hart has worn many other hats since joining the Dead, including those of record producer, author, and composer. His interest in and study of the world's drum cultures has drawn him into collaboration with many of the finest international percussionists.

His "Planet Drum" project received a Grammy in 1991 for Best World Music album. That album was one of 29 releases produced by Hart included in Rykodisc's The World series.

Hart's three books reflect his passion for the history and culture of percussion around the world. "Drumming On the Edge Magic," "Planet Drum," and "Spirit Into Sound: The Magic Of Music" are published by Grateful Dead Books.

In August of 2000, the San Francisco Airport Museum housed in the United Airlines terminal exhibited a portion of Hart's extensive collection of percussion instruments.

As a composer, Hart scored the music for the opening ceremony to the 1996 Olympic games. His film and television credits include Hearts of Darkness, Apocalypse Now, The Twilight Zone, and Viet Nam: a Television History.

Bembe Orisha (Yoruban for Party of the Saints) is the name of Mickey Hart's most recent, multinational touring band. The group includes two Cubans, a Nigerian percussionist, a Persian singer, as well as a bass player, a guitarist and several other drummers from this country. Like most of Hart's projects, Bembe Orisha's music affords the percussionist and his band members plenty of opportunities for improvisation, exploration and jamming.

WOUB's Mark Hellenberg spoke with Mickey Hart while he was in Athens, Ohio with Bembe Orisha in August of 2002.