Donna Jean Godchaux

Donna Jean Godchaux
Godchaux singing with her band inBlacksburg, Virginia,November 2009
Background information
Birth name	Donna Jean Thatcher
Born	(1947-08-22)August 22, 1947 Florence, Alabama,U.S.
Genres	Rock folk psychedelia gospel rhythm and blues
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1966–present
Member of	Donna Jean Godchaux Band
Formerly of	Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia Band Heart of Gold Band
Website	donnajeangodchauxband

Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux-MacKay(born August 22, 1947) is an American singer best known as a member of therockband theGrateful Deadfrom 1972 to 1979. In addition to the Dead, she performed with theJerry Garcia Bandand the short-livedHeart of Gold Band,all alongside her first husband,Keith Godchaux.She formed theDonna Jean Godchaux Bandin 2006.

Biography

Donna Jean Thatcher was born inFlorence, Alabama.Prior to 1970, she had worked as asession singerinMuscle Shoals, Alabama,eventually singing with a group called Southern Comfort and appearing as a backup singer on at least two #1 hit songs: "When a Man Loves a Woman"byPercy Sledgein 1966 and "Suspicious Minds"byElvis Presleyin 1969. Her vocals were featured on other classic recordings byBoz ScaggsandDuane Allman,Cher,Joe Tex,Neil Diamondand many others.She then moved to California and met future fellow Grateful Dead memberKeith Godchaux,whom she married in 1970.

Donna introduced Keith toJerry Garciaafter Garcia's performance at San Francisco'sKeystone Kornerin September 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 backing and lead vocals in the group's music. During their membership in the Grateful Dead, the couple also issued the mostly self-writtenKeith & Donnaalbum in 1975 with Jerry Garcia as a Keith and Donna Band member. In turn, they performed as part of theJerry Garcia Band.Godchaux possesses amezzo-sopranovocal range.

Keith and Donna's son, Zion "Rock" Godchaux ofBoomBox,was born in 1974. After the Grateful Dead, the couple started theHeart 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, she married bassist David MacKay (formerFiddlewormsmember and bassist for the Donna Jean Godchaux Band) and the couple moved to her childhood town of Florence, Alabama, to record at theMuscle Shoals Sound Studio.

In 2006, Donna formedKettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue,later known as Donna Jean & the Tricksters, withJeff Mattson(ofPhil Lesh and Friends,Zen Tricksters,andDark Star Orchestra) and Mookie Siegel (ofDavid Nelson Band,Phil Lesh and Friends,andRatdog). They changed their name to theDonna Jean Godchaux Bandin 2009.She occasionally makes guest appearances withBob Weir & RatDog,Zero &Steve Kimock,New Riders of the Purple Sage,Dark Star OrchestraandDead & Company.She also continues to be involved in archival Grateful Dead projects.

Donna was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fameas a member of the Grateful Dead in 1994,and was inducted into theAlabama Music Hall of Famein 2016.She resides inKillen, Alabama,and remains an active member of the Muscle Shoals music scene when not touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band.

Discography

As group leader or co-leader

Donna Jean Godchaux in 2008

• 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
• Back Around–Donna Jean Godchaux BandwithJeff Mattson– 2014
• "Shelter" (single remix) – Donna Jean and the Tricksters – 2021

With the Grateful Dead

Main article:Grateful Dead discography

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

With other artists

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

Singles

• "When a Man Loves a Woman" / "Love Me Like You Mean It"–Percy Sledge– 1966
• "Suspicious Minds" / "You'll Think of Me"–Elvis Presley– 1969

Videos

• Muscle Shoals– various artists – 2013
• Move Me Brightly– various artists – 2013

Albums

• 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
• Pure Jerry: Theatre 1839, San Francisco, July 29 & 30, 1977– Jerry Garcia Band – 2004
• Pure Jerry: Warner Theatre, March 18, 1978– Jerry Garcia Band – 2005
• For Rex: The Black Tie Dye Ball–The Zen Trickstersand various artists – 2006
• Pure Jerry: Bay Area 1978– Jerry Garcia Band – 2009
• Garcia Live Volume Four– Jerry Garcia Band – 2014
• Garcia Live Volume Seven– Jerry Garcia Band – 2016
• Garcia Live Volume 17– Jerry Garcia Band – 2021
• Garcia Live Volume 21– Jerry Garcia Band – 2024

See also

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

External links

• Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson official websiteArchivedMarch 31, 2022, at theWayback Machine
• Grateful Dead official website
• The Music Never Stopped: The Musical Journey of Donna Jean Godcheaux-McKayFrom honesttune.
• Donna Jean Godchaux InterviewatNAMM Oral History Collection(2017)
• Donna Jean Godchauxdiscography atDiscogs