RIP Hal Kant

From Reuters via the New York Times:

Grateful Dead’s powerful legal “czar” dies

The attorney who brought the Grateful Dead band millions of dollars in revenue during his 35-year stint as their designated “Czar” has succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Hal Kant, who died October 19 in Reno, Nev., was 77.

He is credited with preserving the Dead’s enduring legacy and their valuable intellectual property, including ownership of their music masters and publishing rights (a rare feat in the early days of rock ‘n’ roll).

Lead singer Jerry Garcia has been dead since 1995, yet the band continues to rake in millions of dollars a year through live recordings, merchandise, etc. For example, Garcia’s estate (as well as Save the Rainforest) receives proceeds from every pint of Ben & Jerry’s “Cherry Garcia” ice cream.

So domineering was Kant’s influence that Garcia emblazoned the lawyer’s Grateful Dead business cards with a simple title: “Czar.”

Hal was quite a character. A world-class poker player on top of everything else.

I always enjoyed my dealings with him.