Grateful Dead lawyer Kant dead at 77

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RENO, Nev., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Harold "Hal" Kant, the lawyer who represented the rock group the Grateful Dead for more than 30 years, has died in Reno, Nev., at the age of 77, his son says.

Jonas Kant said his father, who helped protect the "Truckin'" rock group's musical legacy beginning in 1971, died of pancreatic cancer Oct. 19, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir said in a statement that Kant was always indicative of the band's musical and business approach.

"The Grateful Dead was known for its revolutionary approach to the music industry, and Hal was part and parcel of that," Weir said. "We wanted a place for humanity in a business that more resembled a nightmare circus than much else, and he helped us find it."

Kant was credited with supervising most of the rock group's business activities, including organizing the band's popular and seemingly endless U.S. tours and controlling its recording efforts.

The Times said Kant is survived by his wife Jesse, sons Jonas, Garth and Tony, two stepchildren, two sisters and five grandchildren.