Donna Jean Godchaux

Donna Jean Godchaux
Godchaux singing with her band, November 6, 2009, Blacksburg, Virginia
Background information
Birth name	Donna Jean Thatcher
Born	August 22, 1947 Florence, Alabama United States
Genres	Rock, folk rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1972–present
Associated acts	Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia Band Heart of Gold Band Donna Jean Godchaux Band
Website	donnajeangodchauxband.info

Donna Jean (Thatcher) Godchaux-MacKay (born August 22, 1947) is an American singer, best known for having been a member of the Grateful Dead from 1972 until 1979.

Biography

Donna Jean Thatcher was born in Florence, Alabama. Prior to 1970, she had worked as a session singer^[1] in Muscle 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" by Percy Sledge in 1966 and "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley in 1969. Her vocals were featured on other classic recordings by Boz Scaggs and Duane Allman, Cher, Joe Tex, Neil Diamond and many others.^[2][3] She then moved to California and met future fellow Grateful Dead member Keith Godchaux, whom she married in 1970.^[4]

Donna introduced Keith to Jerry Garcia after Garcia's performance at San Francisco's Keystone Korner in 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 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 & 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.^[5] She married bassist David MacKay (former Fiddleworms member and bassist for the Donna Jean Godchaux Band) and the couple moved to her childhood town of Florence, Alabama, to record at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.

In 2009, Donna Jean formed a brand new band, the Donna Jean Godchaux Band, with Jeff Mattson (of Phil Lesh and Friends, Zen Tricksters, and Dark Star Orchestra), after re-entering the music scene with Mattson 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.^[6] She occasionally makes guest appearances with Bob Weir & RatDog, Zero & Steve Kimock, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dark Star Orchestra and Dead & Company.

In 1994, Donna Jean was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead.^[7] She resides in Killen, 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

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 Band with Jeff Mattson – 2014

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.^[8]

With other artists

Donna Godchaux (née Donna Thatcher) has contributed background or lead vocals on many albums by different artists.^[9]

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 Tricksters and 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

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 Thatcher Godchaux, Vocals" on LostLiveDead.com, January 7, 2016
3. Donna Jean Godchaux discography on DeadDisc.com
4. Sprovtsoff-Mangus, Rachel. Keith Godchaux biography on Allmusic
5. Donna Jean (Godchaux) MacKay interview by David Gans, The Truth and Fun Literary Archive, March 28, 1998
6. "The birth of the Donna Jean Godchaux Band", news.jamradio.org, March 3, 2009, Retrieved March 16, 2009.
7. The Grateful Dead on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame web site
8. Donna Jean Godchaux — With the Grateful Dead at the Grateful Dead Family discography.
9. 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.