Wavy Gravy backstage at the 50th anniversary benefit concert for Camp Winnarainbow on Oct. 1, 2025. Credit: Jay Blakesberg
Wavy Gravy — the legendary figure of the counterculture movement who emceed Woodstock, clowned for the Grateful Dead and ran a pig for president against Richard Nixon before co-founding a local summer camp and an international nonprofit — turns 90 on Friday.
Our profile of Wavy’s scarcely believable life of pranks, protests, music and charity has been read by more than 100,000 people, a testament to his enduring power to fascinate. A Berkeley resident since the late 1970s, he is scheduled to attend a documentary screening of “Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie” Friday night at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco, and will be honored Saturday at a 90th birthday party and benefit concert at the Masonic.
After our story was published, readers wrote in by the dozen to wish Wavy a happy birthday and share their memories of far out times.
Reader feedback is lightly edited for length and clarity, though we left your creative punctuation mostly intact.
“I met him at Woodstock and he introduced himself as Hugh when I volunteered at the field hospital on Sunday am. He asked me to ride around in a makeshift ambulance with my cousin Jimmy, riding in the back of a rented UHaul pick up truck with two army cots and pick up people experiencing bad acid trips, bringing them back to Wavy where he took over and helped people get down from the bad high they were having. He spoke to me inches from my face which I think he was just messing with me. He did a great job as MC on stage too. Happy birthday Wavy!” — Joe Coakley
“I saw Wavy Gravy in 1995, he MC’d a concert where Ben Harper performed. The line I remember from him was ‘All I learned in the ’60s was that you can’t get snot off suede.’”
“I was at Wavy’s birthday party at the Wetlands in NYC 1997. The Zen Tricksters with Jonny Dworks speed of light show was unforgettable ⚡️🗽🌬️”
“I first met Wavy in 1981 at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant demonstrations, and spent a few days with him in the ‘jail’ they put us in. After that, I would run into him in the Haight and subsequent demonstrations against the DNC in SF, and other actions during the ‘80s/’90s. Always a beacon of hope, happiness, and love. We need more people like him now more than ever.” — Alexis Neel
“I had the pleasure of meeting WG 1x at the Third Eye Benefit in Toronto, June 21, 1984. He knew I was dosed and barraged me with bubbles from a bubble gun.” — Larry Gottenberg
“I’ve known Wavy for over fifty years. I happen to know that Hugh’s discharge from the Air Force in the 1950s was due to his bad back, and that the claims of his back pain stem from that and not from purported ‘beatings’ from Police during protests. I do happily remember his blocking of Buses at Lawrence Livermore Labs wearing a 7 foot white Bunny Rabbit suit daring the Busses to run over him.” — Zacheriah Harmony
“I only seen him one time in Laytonville Black Oak Ranch. Hope the best for his Berkley Birthday Splash.” — Steven G. Thiele
“Know Wavy since the Trips Festival in SF; a true human being! Left out the financial genius of his wife Jahanara (former “Star Trek” actress) who provided the businesses to fuel their philanthropy. Their first endeavor in Berkeley was an “alternative” answering service called Babelyon on Woolsey Street (a Hog commune). Later they moved into Will Scarlet’s (Grateful Dead Road Mgr) house near Live Oak. All my kids went to Camp Winnirainbow and became stilt walkers!. Wavy and Jahnara are an amazing couple!” — Matthew F Kelleher
“wavy gravy is the fellow!! I lived down the street near Live Oak Park for a couple decades near his house. Supported his 1990 Berkeley city council run in my district. I’ve Known many people that were close to him — a truly influential nice man. His work on children’s eyesight is his core achievement in my mind. But he is a humanistic counterculture icon🙏🏻” — Al Geyer
“I went to one of Wavy Gravy’s birthday parties years ago at the Hog Farm. It was called the Pig Nig or something like that. … I was with an old hippie named Apollo and it is one of the best experiences of my life!! Wavy Gravy is and has been a huge inspiration in my life and he still continues to try and make our world a better place!! I know Blue (Big Bear) is looking down on him with a smile from ear to ear!!! 🐻💙✌🏼😁” — Timothy R Rowe
“Me and Wavy became good mates spending three days together locked up in SLO after our No Nukes demonstration at Diablo Canyon nuke plant in ’78. Our conversations seemed to be never ending!!! He’s a National Treasure!!! Thanks for all that you’ve done for the human race brother. Happy Birthday and Jah Love.” — Joseph Che D’Amico
“Hey there Wavis, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Do you remember me (Rocky Raccoon gal from Ellensburg WA?) Those were College Daze in the big red house at the end of town with Red Dog and the boys. You used to wake us up with my Who albums (full volume) then crash on our couch! I got a quiet place now in Alaska. Enjoy your 90th, I’ll tip one for you, Peace Be.”
“GROOVY y’all made my day. Best energies to/for continued safe happy journeys.” — Cher [Editors’ note: We’ve done nothing to verify, but it’s certainly a possibility at least that this is the Cher.]
“Cultural icon is an understatement. His outcry “Don’t EAT The BROWN ACID” saved lives!!!” -Voo Doo Chile
“I really enjoyed my granola cup at Woodstock while listening to an unknown person speak to all of us. Made me a life long granola fan!” — Steven Rose
“We are always entertaining Angels. Sometimes unwittingly, and sometimes along with legendary wit.”
“Happy Birthday ‘Wavey Gravey’/A fluidity of thinking. . ./The conscientiousness of thought. . ./A lengthiness of measure/T’is divine wisdom of love. . ./🤗☺️😚😇” — John W Pavlic
“I am approaching 3/4 of a century traveling on this spaceship called Earth and have known of Mr gravy for over 50 years. I am very glad this article found me as it is my pleasure to know what a fine person he is indeed.” — Bill Candler
“I met him at the West Palm Beach Festival. After everyone left he was alone in a field of trash and discards picking up garbage and bagging it up.”
“I met wavy at Watkins Glen he was part of the scene very open and happy.” — George Mariani
“Always wondered about the guy behind the name. Jubilant to find out he is such a humanitarian & do-gooder!” — Patty Knox
“I just turned 67. Woodstock happened just after my 11th birthday. I was always a follower of hippies and their beliefs and music. Keep on keeping on, Wavy!” — Mark Gannett
“Wavy Gravy sucks. Part of a failed generation.”
“I’m a 75 year old lifelong Republican who LOVES MAGA but thoroughly enjoyed this article! I’ve always regretted my decision to turn down an offer to go to Woodstock. My life is a study of dichotomies but I’m sure I’ll figure it out eventually! Thanks For the wisdom and HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAVY!” — Chip Boyd
“Brings back great memories of the 1960s and 1970s. Wish all human beings were like Wavy Gravy. The world would be a much better place. But people are stuck in the corporate slavery society blind fold to see beyond their noses and make any meaningful changes.”
“My favorite part of Wavy Gravy’s City Council campaign was that his lawn signs were in the shape of flamingo bodies, with the stake making the leg.” — Nancy Schimmel
“Happy Birthday Wavy! May you enjoy your day the best way with family and friends!” — Kenneth Edgar
“Happy 90th Birthday to Wavy Gravy. Xoxo.” — Lisa Bullock
“Wavy is wonderful. Shut Diablo Canyon.” — Sunny Wasserman
“Remember the “Nobody for President“ campaign? Nobody loves the poor, will lower taxes…”
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