As the late Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia's estate has collaborated with ElevenLabs to create an AI-generated voice model of Garcia, his recognizable voice can now be used to read aloud a variety of content, bringing his legacy to life for fan
- November 12, 2024
AceShowbiz - The Jerry Garcia Foundation, co-founded by his daughter Keelin Garcia, is also considering using the voice model for future projects such as narrated documentaries and audio art exhibits. Keelin Garcia emphasizes her father's pioneering nature and his embrace of technology, highlighting his enthusiasm for digital art, video games, and constant exploration of new advancements.
ElevenLabs, an AI voice company, has previously partnered with other estates, including those of Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds, and Sir Laurence Olivier, to recreate their voices for the Iconic Listening Experience on the ElevenReader app. ElevenLabs collaborated closely with the Jerry Garcia Estate to develop an accurate rendition of Garcia's voice, respecting his legacy and ensuring its authenticity.
Head of Partnerships at ElevenLabs, Dustin Blank, expresses the company's commitment to preserving cultural legacies and expanding the boundaries of technology. He believes that bringing Garcia's voice back for new projects, such as Paul McCartney's use of AI to extract John Lennon's vocals for the "Last Beatles Record," is a way to connect audiences with legendary artists.
Garcia's voice model is now available on the ElevenReader app, where users can choose to have him read audiobooks, e-books, articles, poetry, PDFs, and fan stories in 32 different languages. This partnership represents a new era of innovation in the music industry, where the voices of deceased artists can continue to be enjoyed and celebrated, fostering a deeper connection with their fans and inspiring new generations of music lovers.