Posted on 11/03/2025 9:18:46 AM PST by dayglored
[Subtitle] The vocalist spent the Seventies with the legendary group, and also sang backup on hits by Elvis Presley and Percy Sledge
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, who spent the Seventies singing with the Grateful Dead, sang back-up on several classic Sixties hits, and fronted her own bands, has died. She was 78.
Godchaux joined the Grateful Dead in 1971 alongside her husband, Keith, who played keyboards. Her vocals were a key feature of the Dead’s seminal run during the Seventies, appearing on such classic albums as Europe ’72, Wake of the Flood, and Terrapin Station, not to mention countless legendary live recordings (including the famed Cornell ’77 gig and the Dead’s September 1978 shows at the Giza pyramid in Egypt).
Prior to joining the Dead, Godcheaux was working as an in-demand session singer in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. She contributed to hits like Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds,” while also singing on songs by Duane Allman, Cher, Neil Diamond, and Boz Scaggs.
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
RIP Donna Jean Godchaux.
I have no idea how many Dead concerts I saw in the 70s. A lot. I knew a bunch of Deadheads who didn’t think a girl had any right to be in the Dead. And they said they didn’t like her singing. But to me, she was always part of the band.
RIP.
If you perform you are a member....................
Bands hit a phase when wives and girlfriends push their way in to caterwaul on stage. John Lennon, The Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, even Skynyrd...
It’s sad, but there is very few ways to avoid it.
At least Led Zeppelin never caved.
Her studio work was much more listenable and even enjoyable. Unfortunately she was never quite able to overcome the perception that she "just tagged along" with Keith when he became the Dead's keyboardist.
She was a very capable singer, with the Dead and others, and that should be her legacy.
This could get me killed but… The GD was the most overrated band in history.
Dead keyboardists were like Lieutenants in Vietnam, don’t even learn their name. The Dead needed a keyboard and his wife was part of the deal...
I never much cared for them as they sounded too ‘country - folk rock’ for my taste, I’m more of a Led Zeppelin/Black Sabbath/AC-DC kind of guy...........
RIP Donna. She admitted she got a little “ Pitchy “ sometimes on stage. But it’s pretty amazing how many great songs she sang backup on at Muscle Shoals.
she was horrible., her husband could play... not sure why they allowed her on stage
Rest In Peace, Donna Jean.
IMO as a rock-n-roll performer starting 1965, women can play a useful part in a band in a few, but not all, configurations:
Under-rated although I am not a dead head. I have never seen them live. I have more appreciation now that I am older. It is great music to play while working. They made their bones being a jam band because they were great musicians. It’s why Jerry Garcia was able to branch out to things like bluegrass.
I’m sorry to hear of Donna’s passing. I’m Johnny Come lately to the Deadhead party. Oh, I loved the Working Man’s Dead and American Beauty albums When they came out. But I wasn’t in on the concerts or some of the other stuff they did.
Only lately when I subscribed to Sirius XM Have I come to admire their whole body of work. Whenever I hear a female voice on their recordings I’ve often wondered who she was. Now I know. RIP donna.
Yeh, ya best start watchin' yer back.... :-)
I am a Dead Head. Went to many concerts 70s 80’s She was just great. She was nice. And a very good voice. RIP
“The GD was the most overrated band in history.”
Maybe so. Certainly mediocre musical talent that specialized in creating hippie ambience and atmosphere. They carved out a particular space that no one else could claim. In their case mood and vibe trumped musicianship.
Because they were a jam band even Jerry Garcia admitted that they were hugely inconsistent and sounded awful at times. An example is Jerry’s take on their Woodstock performance.
It wasn’t always the drugs. Jerry didn’t like to do psychedelics on stage because he felt he had few options and had to play even if he was unable. His story about the time he accidentally dosed himself and then had to play is hilarious. He said he was paranoid and thought the audience was going to kill him and that he was “playing for his life”. :-)
Niche market I guess...I never got their stuff/style either.
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