海角大神

You had to really listen to hear what he was doing, and even then he never played anything the same way twice. For more than 60 years, by his own estimate in more than 6,000 shows, Bob Weir told a uniquely American story on six strings. He played guitar with the timing and timbre of a jazz pianist and drew his ideas from the whole tone pallet of American music.

If it is honest, art teaches civic chords of humility and independent thought. Mr. Weir, who died this past weekend, disapproved of pride. He enriched the American songbook with uncommon selflessness. For a nation too prone to shouting these days, he leaves a singular example in the art of listening.