Which Saturday Night Live performer began his career as a graphic artist, designed album covers for the The Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, and Poco?

The "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) performer who designed album covers for the The Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, and Poco and began his career as a graphic artist was Phil Hartman. In the late 1960s, Hartman studied art at Santa Monica City College in California. He dropped out in 1969 and went to work for rock bands as a roadie. He returned to school at California State University, Northridge in 1972 where he studied graphic arts. He decided to develop a graphic arts business, which he operated on his own. In his business, he created over 40 album covers for bands including Poco, The Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, and America, as well as advertising and the logo designs for Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Hartman was part of the SNL show for eight seasons (1986 - 1995). He became well known for his SNL impersonations (Bill Clinton, Frank Sinatra, etc.). He was killed by his wife in 1998.