R.I.P., the Grateful Dead's Donna Jean Godchaux

[Miles Archer]

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/donna-jean-godchaux-obituary/

Donna Jean Godchaux, who sang with the Grateful Dead from 1972 to 1979, has died.

Godchaux died on Nov. 2 at a Nashville hospice. According to a statement, Godchaux had a "lengthy struggle with cancer."

"She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss," the statement noted. "The family requests privacy at this time of grieving. In the words of Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, 'May the four winds blow her safely home.'"

Born in Florence, Alabama, Godchaux was a backing singer on recording sessions from the state's famous Muscle Shoals music scene.

[LuckyCharms]

1. Donna Jean Godchaux on joining the Grateful Dead and meeting Keith Godchaux

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. That was really interesting. LC.

Thanks for posting!

[LuckyCharms]

9. You bet, OAITW.

[SheltieLover]

2. Rest in music...

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. She had a beautiful voice.

Saw her in Boston in 71...she was obviously pregnant.....so I think her time with the Dead was longer than noted in the article.


One of my favorite Donna Jean vocals-

https://music.

&si=tVFpBK-78qYib_MQ

[Miles Archer]

5. The chronology...

"The couple introduced themselves to Jerry Garcia at a concert in August 1971"
Keith "was invited to join the group as a permanent member in September 1971"
"He first performed publicly with the Dead on October 19, 1971, at the University of Minnesota's Northrup Auditorium."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Godchaux

I have a couple of Road Trips or Dick's Picks CDs with Keith only, and the liner notes saying she was not at that show because of her pregnancy.

I think "the general public" sees their debut on Europe 72, and my guess is that the person who wrote the article made that assumption, without doing the research. They didn't just hop on the bus for that tour. They were more or less "seasoned" before the band hit Europe.

[OAITW r.2.0]

11. I gotta find out, but I saw the Dead and New Riders at the Old Boston Garden - fall of 71.

NRPS came out in cowboy glitter suits at 6:30 and the Dead played to after 1 AM. I remember thinking :who is this female singer? And I noticed this guy playing the piano. Keith was the catalyst to the nest musical chapter of the Grateful Dead, IMHO.

But, I also got dosed at the show....it took we 3 hours to walk back to my buddiy's dorm room at Boston College.

[LuckyCharms]

6. Bill Graham introduction. Great American Music Hall. 1975

[Miles Archer]

7. Yeah, I love that whole show, especially the intro

They had some wild, experimental times during that "Blues for Allah" show. But they were also extremely tight and precise.

[LuckyCharms]

8. An invite only show...I think around 400 people?

That introduction gives me goosebumps as they each come in with their instruments as they are introduced.

I had this as a bootleg album before "From the Vault" was released. Found it in a record store somewhere in PA. The album was called "Make Believe Ballroom".

[Miles Archer]

14. If you don't have the 50th Anniversary Blues For Allah album, I think you may want it...

https://store.dead.net/products/blues-for-allah-50th-anniversary-deluxe-edition-3cd

CD 2 is "Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA Soundcheck/Rehearsal (8/12/75)"

CD 3 is "Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA (6/21/76 and 6/22/76)"

Track listing at the link.

"The set also features almost two hours of unreleased recordings. Among the highlights are rehearsals from the band’s August 12, 1975, soundcheck at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, including the album tracks “Sage & Spirit,” “Help On The Way,” “Slipknot!,” and “Franklin’s Tower.” The collection continues with performances from the June 21, 1976, show at the Tower Theatre in Pennsylvania, spotlighting five BLUES FOR ALLAH songs alongside favorites like “Eyes Of The World.” Rounding out the set are selections from Bill Graham’s SNACK (Students Need Athletics, Culture, and Kicks) Benefit at Kezar Stadium on March 23, 1975. Previously only available on the 2004 Beyond Description box set’s Bonus Disc, the recordings include one of only three known performances of “King Solomon’s Marbles.”"

[LuckyCharms]

15. Thanks for this, Miles. n/t

[OAITW r.2.0]

12. Bill was good at intros.

https://music.

&si=RG54RjaSW7OF5KCG

[LuckyCharms]

10. She sang backup on Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds"

as Donna Thatcher.

[OAITW r.2.0]

13. Intersting....it had to have been that Muscle Shoals connection.

I wonder if Keith was doing studio work there? I mean, did Keith have background or were the Dead the 1st band he played with?

[LuckyCharms]

16. I'm not sure about studio work, but I know he played in...

lounge bands and Dixieland bands before joining the Dead.

Keith and Donna also had a band called the Heart of Gold Band, and Keith also played with the Jerry Garcia Band.

About 30 years ago I read a story in Relix magazine about when the Dead were staying in some fancy hotel that Anthony Quinn was also staying at, and there was also a guest there that was enjoying secret service protection? There was some kind of hassle with Anthony Quinn who didn't enjoy the Dead being in the same hotel as him?...something like that. If I remember correctly, Keith stepped out of his room and for some reason he was confronted by a SS guy who told him to get back in his room, and Keith knocked him out, causing Mickey Hart (I think) to recall "Jesusssss, Keith was tough".

I remember what I was doing when I heard that Keith died in a car accident.

Going from memory here...I'm trying to find that story online, but I'm not having any luck.

[OAITW r.2.0]

17. You are a fountain of knowledge with all things Dead my friend.

Surprised that no known early Keith vids have surfaced.