Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Dave Torbert

David Edwin Torbert was a Bay Area musician, best known for his associations with the Grateful Dead and the New Riders of the Purple Sage. He played bass for the latter group, replacing Phil Lesh during the sessions for their first album. He also played on "Box of Rain", a song from American Beauty, and on "Greatest Story Ever Told" from Bob Weir's solo album Ace. Additionally, he was a founding member, with Matthew Kelly, of the band Kingfish. Torbert died of a heart attack in 1982. Among the songs that Torbert wrote and sang lead with the New Riders were "California Day", "Contract", "Gypsy Cowboy", "Groupie", "On My Way Back Home", "It's Alright with Me", "Important Exportin' Man", and "Thank the Day".

Last revised
Jul 19, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
461 w
Citations
7
Source
Dave Torbert
Born
David Edwin Torbert

(1948-06-07)June 7, 1948
DiedDecember 7, 1982(1982-12-07) (aged 34)
GenresRock
InstrumentsBass guitar, vocals
Years active1968–1982
Formerly ofNew Riders of the Purple Sage
Kingfish

David Edwin Torbert (June 7, 1948 – December 7, 1982) was a Bay Area musician, best known for his associations with the Grateful Dead and the New Riders of the Purple Sage.1 He played bass for the latter group, replacing Phil Lesh during the sessions for their first album.2 He also played on "Box of Rain", a song from American Beauty,3 and on "Greatest Story Ever Told" from Bob Weir's solo album Ace. Additionally, he was a founding member, with Matthew Kelly, of the band Kingfish.456 Torbert died of a heart attack in 1982. Among the songs that Torbert wrote and sang lead with the New Riders were "California Day", "Contract", "Gypsy Cowboy", "Groupie", "On My Way Back Home", "It's Alright with Me", "Important Exportin' Man", and "Thank the Day".

He died of a heart attack at the age of 34.7


Discography

References

References