Donna Jean Godchaux

Donna Jean Godchaux
Birth name	Donna Jean Thatcher
Born	August 22, 1947 (1947-08-22) (age 64) Florence, Alabama, United States
Origin	San Francisco, California
Genres	Rock,
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1972–present
Associated acts	Grateful Dead (1972-'79) Jerry Garcia Band (1976-'78) Heart of Gold Band (1980-'81, 2004-present) Donna Jean Godchaux Band (2007-present)
Website	www.donnajeangodchauxband.com

Donna Jean (Thatcher) Godchaux-MacKay (born August 22, 1947) is an American singer best known for having been a member of the Grateful Dead rock group.

Biography

Donna Jean was born in Florence, Alabama. Prior to 1970, she had worked as a session singer^[1] in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, appearing on songs by Elvis Presley and Cher.^[2] She met future fellow Grateful Dead member Keith Godchaux and they married in 1970.^[3]

Donna introduced Keith to Jerry Garcia after Garcia's performance at San Francisco's Keystone Korner in October 1971. At the time, Donna Jean was not working as a musician. She joined the band shortly afterwards, remaining a member until February 1979.

Donna Jean provided back-up and lead vocals in the group's music. During their membership in the Grateful Dead, the couple also issued the mostly self-written Keith and Donna album in 1975 with Jerry Garcia as a Keith and Donna Band member. In turn, they performed as part of the Jerry Garcia Band.

Keith and Donna's son, Zion "Rock" Godchaux of BoomBox, was born in 1974.

After the Grateful Dead, the couple started the Heart of Gold Band.

Donna did not perform again with any Grateful Dead band members until after the death of Jerry Garcia. Shortly after her husband's death in 1980, Donna Jean turned to religion.^[4] She married bassist David MacKay (former Fiddleworms member and bassist for Donna Jean Godchaux Band) and the couple moved to Florence, Alabama to work at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.

In 2009, Donna Jean formed a brand new band with Jeff Mattson, The Donna Jean Godchaux Band w/Jeff Mattson, after re-entering the music scene with Jeff Mattson (of Phil Lesh and Friends, Zen Tricksters, and Dark Star Orchestra), and previously with and Mookie Siegel (of David Nelson Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, and Ratdog) to form Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue, later known as Donna Jean & the Tricksters, several years earlier.^[5] She occasionally makes guest appearances with Bob Weir & Ratdog, Zero & Steve Kimock, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Dark Star Orchestra.

Donna Jean was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the Grateful Dead.^[6] She continues to reside in Florence, Alabama, and remains an active member of the Muscle Shoals music scene when not touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson.

Discography

As group leader or co-leader

• Keith & Donna – Keith and Donna Godchaux – 1975
• Playing in the Heart of Gold Band – The Ghosts – 1984
• The Heart of Gold Band – The Heart of Gold Band – 1986
• Donna Jean – The Donna Jean Band – 1998
• At the Table – The Heart of Gold Band – 2004
• Donna Jean and the Tricksters – Donna Jean and the Tricksters – 2008

With the Grateful Dead

Donna Godchaux was a member of the Grateful Dead from 1972 to 1979 and appears on many of the band's albums.^[7]

Main article: Grateful Dead discography

With other artists

Donna Godchaux (née Donna Thatcher) has contributed background or lead vocals on many albums by different artists.^[8]

• From Elvis in Memphis – Elvis Presley – 1969
• From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis – Elvis Presley – 1969
• 3614 Jackson Highway – Cher – 1969
• Boz Scaggs – Boz Scaggs – 1969
• Ton-Ton Macoute! – Johnny Jenkins – 1970
• Ace – Bob Weir – 1972
• Demon in Disguise – David Bromberg – 1972
• Gypsy Cowboy – New Riders of the Purple Sage – 1972
• The Adventures of Panama Red – New Riders of the Purple Sage – 1973
• Tales of the Great Rum Runners – Robert Hunter – 1974
• Tiger Rose – Robert Hunter – 1975
• Reflections – Jerry Garcia – 1976
• Cats Under the Stars – Jerry Garcia Band – 1977
• Here Goes Nothing – Zero – 1987
• Laughing Water – Jazz Is Dead – 1999
• Don't Let Go – Jerry Garcia Band – 2001
• Worcester, MA, 4/4/73 – New Riders of the Purple Sage – 2003
• Theatre 1839, July 29 & 30, 1977 – Jerry Garcia Band – 2004
• Warner Theatre, March 18, 1978 – Jerry Garcia Band – 2005
• For Rex: The Black Tie Dye Ball – The Zen Tricksters and various artists – 2006
• Bay Area, 1978 – Jerry Garcia Band – 2009

See also

• Muscle Shoals, Alabama
• FAME Studios
• Muscle Shoals Sound Studios

References

1. ^ Sprovtsoff-Mangus, Rachel. Donna Jean Godchaux biography on Allmusic
2. ^ Donna Jean Godchaux discography on DeadDisc.com
3. ^ Sprovtsoff-Mangus, Rachel. Keith Godchaux biography on Allmusic
4. ^ Donna Jean (Godchaux) MacKay interview by David Gans, The Truth and Fun Literary Archive, March 28, 1998
5. ^ The birth of the Donna Jean Godchaux Band, news.jamradio.org, March 3, 2009, Retrieved March 16, 2009.
6. ^ The Grateful Dead on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame web site
7. ^ Donna Jean Godchaux — With the Grateful Dead at the Grateful Dead Family discography.
8. ^ Donna Jean Godchaux — With Others at the Grateful Dead Family discography.

External links

• Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson official website
• Grateful Dead official website
• The Music Never Stopped: The Musical Journey of Donna Jean Godcheaux-McKay From honesttune.com.

Persondata
Name	Godchaux, Donna Jean
Alternative names
Short description	Musician
Date of birth	August 22, 1947
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death