Phil Lesh Celebrates Birthday With Friends and a Benefit Concert

As the Grateful Dead great has a birthday, he's gathering his friends and helping out charity all at the same time.

Phil Lesh and Friends are celebrating his birthday and doing some good by putting on several benefit concerts for the Unbroken Chain Foundation.

The celebration actually started on March 8, but it will continue all through the weekend concluding with a show on Sunday with Jeff Chimenti, Bob Weir, Stu Allen and Joe Russo. All of the shows are taking place at Phil's Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California.

By the way, the Unbroken Chain Foundation was the brain child of Phil and aims to connect community members with ways to serve their neighbors. According to their website, they promote, "support for, and public awareness of, groups and individuals that bring hope and inspiration to communities where great need exists, and to create partnerships of people working together for a common good, especially in such areas as the arts, education and the environment."

Phil's friend Bob Weir who is part of these shows has his own web channel and hosts a variety show called Weir Here that airs Wednesday nights via Bob's website.

Phil turns 73 today.