LOS ANGELES — Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at age 78.Weir's death was announced Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page. View this post on Instagram “It is with p rofound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir,” the statement said. “He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.”Weir joined the Grateful Dead — originally the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years old. He'd spend the next 30 years playing on endless tours with the Grateful Dead alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics, including “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night” and “Mexicali Blues.”In the decades since, he kept playing with other projects, including Dead and Company. Related Garcia’s Chicago will celebrate Grateful Dead’s iconic leader in new food, music venue ‘Long Strange Trip’ takes its time telling Grateful Dead story Dead Company set for two shows at Wrigley Field “For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road,” the Instagram statement said. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music.” ...read more read less