Mark Karan is best known for his extended time on the Grateful Dead scene as lead guitarist for Bob Weir & Ratdog, The Other Ones, Phil & Friends, and Planet Drum. But Mark’s musical reach extends far beyond the land of the Dead. His six-string contributions have complemented recordings and tours with Delaney Bramlett, Dave Mason, Sophie B. Hawkins, the Rembrandts, and Paul Carrick. Mark has been a guest for sit-ins with the Allman Brothers, Trey Anastasio, Gov't Mule, Jackie Greene, Levon Helm, Little Feat, and many more. The San Francisco-based singer-songwriter-guitarist has recently been playing well-received live shows with the Grammy Award-winning Dave Alvin in a newly minted interpretive Americana band called “the Third Mind,” touring actively with “Live Dead & Brothers,” an interpretive “mash-up” of “Grateful Dead” & “Allman Brothers” material… touring with the David Gilmour/Pink Floyd inspired “Gilmour Project” & playing nearer to home with his own band, “Mark Karen’s Buds.” Mark also recently finished recording and mixing his newest record and is embarking on what is possibly the most personal phase of his career. He joins Vivian to discuss it all.