Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux-MacKay (born August 22, 1947) is an American singer best known as a member of the

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band the

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1965. Known for their eclectic style that fused elements of rock, blues, jazz, Folk music, folk, country music, country, bluegrass music, bluegrass, roc ...

from 1972 to 1979. In addition to the Dead, she performed with the

Jerry Garcia Band The Jerry Garcia Band was a San Francisco Bay Area rock band led by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Garcia founded the band in 1975; it remained the most important of his various side projects until his death in 1995. The band regularly tour ...

and the short-lived

Heart of Gold Band The Heart of Gold Band is an American rock band formed by Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux in 1980 following their departure from the Grateful Dead. The band took its name from a line in the Dead song " Scarlet Begonias". Original Run The Heart of ...

, all alongside her first husband,

Keith Godchaux Keith Richard Godchaux (July 19, 1948 – July 23, 1980) was an American pianist best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead from 1971 to 1979. Following their departure from the Dead, he and his wife Donna formed the H ...

. She formed the

Donna Jean Godchaux Band The Donna Jean Godchaux Band (sometimes known as the Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson) is an American rock music group. Originally named Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue, and later Donna Jean and the Tricksters, the band was origina ...

in 2006.

Biography

Donna Jean Thatcher was born in

Florence, Alabama Florence is a city in, and the county seat of, Lauderdale County, Alabama, Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the state's northwestern corner, and had a population of 40,184 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Florence is l ...

. Prior to 1970, she had worked as a

session singer A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a record ...

Muscle Shoals, Alabama Muscle Shoals is the largest city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is located on the left bank of the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state and, as of the 2010 census, its population was 13,146. The estimated popula ...

, 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 Percy Tyrone Sledge (November 25, 1940 – April 14, 2015) was an American R&B, soul and gospel singer. He is best known for the song " When a Man Loves a Woman", a No. 1 hit on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B singles charts in 19 ...

in 1966 and "

Suspicious Minds "Suspicious Minds" is a 1968 song written and first recorded by the American songwriter Mark James. After this recording failed commercially, it was recorded by Elvis Presley with the producer Chips Moman. Presley's version reached No.1 on th ...

" by

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

in 1969. Her vocals were featured on other classic recordings by

Boz Scaggs William Royce "Boz" Scaggs (born June 8, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was a bandmate of Steve Miller (musician), Steve Miller in the Ardells in the early 1960s and a member of the Steve Miller Band from 1967 to 196 ...

and

Duane Allman Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American rock and blues guitarist and the founder and original leader of the Allman Brothers Band, for which he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fam ...

Cher Cher ( ; born Cheryl Sarkisian, May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Goddess of Pop", she is known for her Androgyny, androgynous contralto voice, Music an ...

Joe Tex Yusuf Hazziez (born Joseph Arrington Jr.; August 8, 1935 – August 13, 1982), known professionally as Joe Tex, was an American singer and musician who gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the style ...

Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling musicians of all time. He has written and ...

and many others. She then moved to California and met future fellow Grateful Dead member

, whom she married in 1970. She is the sister of famed videographer Ivan Thatcher and award-winning former Sheffield (Ala.) HS cheerleader Gogi Thatcher and daughter of the late Jamie Thatcher Saywell. Donna introduced Keith to

Jerry Garcia Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician who was the lead guitarist and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence during the counterculture of the 196 ...

after Garcia's performance at San Francisco's

Keystone Korner The Keystone Korner was a jazz club in the North Beach, San Francisco, North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California, which opened in 1970 and continued operation until 1983. Many live recordings were made at the club. In the 1970s, Jessi ...

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 backing 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 ''Keith & Donna'' is an album by Keith Godchaux and Donna Jean Godchaux. Their only studio album as a duo leading their own band, it was released in 1975 on the Round Records label. Produced as a vinyl LP, it has not been released on CD. On ''K ...

'' album in 1975 with Jerry Garcia as a Keith and Donna Band member. In turn, they performed as part of the

. Godchaux possesses a

mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano (, ), or mezzo ( ), is a type of classical music, classical female singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A bel ...

vocal range. Keith and Donna's son, Zion "Rock" Godchaux of

BoomBox A boombox is a transistorized portable music player featuring one or two cassette tape players/recorders and AM/FM radio, generally with a carrying handle. Beginning in the mid-1990s, a CD player was often included. Sound is delivered thro ...

, was born in 1974. After the Grateful Dead, the couple started the

. 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 (former

Fiddleworms Fiddleworms is an American rock music group from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The band was originally formed in 1994 by Russell Mefford, Chris Quillen, Scott Kennedy, and Matt Ross. Later, Rob Malone (formerly of the Drive-By Truckers), David MacKay ...

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 Studio Muscle Shoals Sound Studio is an American recording studio in Sheffield, Alabama, formed in 1969 by four session musicians known as The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. They had left nearby FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals to create their own record ...

. In 2006, Donna formed Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue, later known as Donna Jean & the Tricksters, with

Jeff Mattson Jeff Mattson (born July 3, 1958) is an American musician. He was raised on Long Island, NY. Mattson is founding member of the jam band, the Zen Tricksters, and guitarist in the Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson, which features the Grate ...

(of

Phil Lesh and Friends Phil Lesh and Friends was an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead. Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including gro ...

Zen Tricksters The Zen Tricksters are an American Grateful Dead cover band. For over forty years, the Zen Tricksters have been playing Grateful Dead covers and jam band music, as well as derivative original songs. The band started out as the Volunteers, playin ...

, and

Dark Star Orchestra Dark Star Orchestra is a Grateful Dead cover band formed in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. They serve now as an tribute band, international touring tribute band to the rock group the Grateful Dead. Since 1997, the band has been "celebrating the Gra ...

) and Mookie Siegel (of David Nelson Band,

, and

Ratdog RatDog is an American rock band. The group began in 1995 as a side project for Grateful Dead guitarist and singer Bob Weir. After the Dead disbanded later that year, RatDog became Weir's primary band. They performed some Grateful Dead songs, a mi ...

). They changed their name to the

in 2009. She occasionally makes guest appearances with

Bob Weir & RatDog RatDog is an American rock band. The group began in 1995 as a side project for Grateful Dead guitarist and singer Bob Weir. After the Dead disbanded later that year, RatDog became Weir's primary band. They performed some Grateful Dead songs, a mix ...

, Zero &

Steve Kimock Steve Kimock (born October 5, 1955) is an American rock guitarist. He was a member of San Francisco Bay Area bands Zero and KVHW. His tone and some of his playing approach has been compared to Jerry Garcia, who was a friend of his, and he has ...

New Riders of the Purple Sage New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969 and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. The band is sometimes referred to ...

and

Dead & Company Dead & Company is an American rock band that formed in 2015 with a lineup of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir (guitar and vocals), Mickey Hart (drums), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums), along with John Mayer (guitar and vocals), Oteil Burbridge ...

. She also continues to be involved in archival Grateful Dead projects. Donna was inducted into the

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...

as a member of the Grateful Dead in 1994, and was inducted into the

Alabama Music Hall of Fame The Alabama Music Hall of Fame, first conceived by the Muscle Shoals Music Association in the early 1980s, was created by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board, which then oversaw construction of a facility after a statewide referendum in 1987 ...

in 2016. She resides in

Killen, Alabama Killen is a town in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as " The Shoals". It was incorporated in 1957. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town is ...

, 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

* ''

'' – 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 may refer to the short form of the honorific ''nobildonna'', the female form of Don (honorific) in Italian. People *Donna (given name); includes name origin and list of people and characters with the name Places *Donna, Texas, USA * Dønna ...

'' –

– 2008 * ''

Back Around ''Back Around'' is an album by the Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson. Band leader and vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux was formerly a member of the Grateful Dead. Lead guitarist Jeff Mattson, who also sings on several of the tracks, is a me ...

'' –

with

– 2014 * "Shelter" (single remix) – Donna Jean and the Tricksters – 2021

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.

With other artists

Donna Godchaux (née Donna Thatcher) has contributed background or lead vocals on many albums by different artists.Donna Jean Godchaux — With Others
at the Grateful Dead Family discography. ;Singles * "When a Man Loves a Woman" / "Love Me Like You Mean It" –

– 1966 * "Suspicious Minds" / "You'll Think of Me" –

– 1969 ;Videos * ''

Muscle Shoals Muscle Shoals is the largest city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is located on the left bank of the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state and, as of the 2010 census, its population was 13,146. The estimated popula ...

'' – various artists – 2013 * '' Move Me Brightly'' – various artists – 2013 ;Albums * ''

From Elvis in Memphis ''From Elvis in Memphis'' is the ninth studio album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. It was released by RCA Records on June 2, 1969. It was recorded at American Sound Studio in Memphis in January and February 1969 under the dire ...

'' –

– 1969 * '' From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis'' – Elvis Presley – 1969 * ''

3614 Jackson Highway ''3614 Jackson Highway'' is the sixth album by American singer-actress Cher, released on June 20, 1969, by ATCO. This album was a commercial failure, peaking at 160, although it received praise and positive reviews from the music critics. 3614 Ja ...

'' –

– 1969 * ''

'' –

– 1969 * ''

Ton-Ton Macoute! ''Ton-Ton Macoute!'' is the 1970 debut solo album of American blues musician Johnny Jenkins. Jenkins had previously led The Pinetoppers, a band which at one time featured Otis Redding. Jenkins then appeared on two Redding albums, playing guitar, ...

'' –

Johnny Jenkins Johnny Edward Jenkins (March 5, 1939 – June 26, 2006) was an American left-handed blues guitarist, who helped launch the career of Otis Redding. His flamboyant style of guitar playing also influenced Jimi Hendrix. Biography In the 1960s, J ...

– 1970 * ''

Ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or a club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ...

'' –

Bob Weir Robert Hall Weir ( ; né Parber, born October 16, 1947) is an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the group disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with the Other Ones, later known as the Dead ...

– 1972 * '' Demon in Disguise'' –

David Bromberg David Bromberg (born September 19, 1945) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. David Bromberg biographyat Billboard.com An eclectic artist, Bromberg plays bluegrass rock, blues rock, folk rock, jazz rock, country rock, ...

– 1972 * ''

Gypsy Cowboy ''Gypsy Cowboy'' is the third album by the country rock band the New Riders of the Purple Sage. It was recorded and released in 1972. The album includes six original songs by John Dawson (musician), John Dawson and three by Dave Torbert, plus ...

'' –

– 1972 * ''

The Adventures of Panama Red ''The Adventures of Panama Red'' is the fourth country rock album by the New Riders of the Purple Sage, released in 1973. It is widely regarded as one of the group's best efforts, and reached number 55 on the Billboard charts. The album inclu ...

'' – New Riders of the Purple Sage – 1973 * ''Tales of the Great Rum Runners'' – Robert Hunter – 1974 * ''Tiger Rose'' – Robert Hunter – 1975 * ''

Reflections Reflections may refer to: Books and magazines * ''Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims'', a series of books (1665–1678) by François de La Rochefoucauld * ''Reflections'' (Sufi literature), by Idries Shah * ''Reflections'', an alumni pu ...

'' –

– 1976 * ''

Cats Under the Stars The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the do ...

'' –

– 1977 * ''Here Goes Nothing'' –

Zero 0 (zero) is a number representing an empty quantity. Adding (or subtracting) 0 to any number leaves that number unchanged; in mathematical terminology, 0 is the additive identity of the integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and compl ...

– 1987 * ''

Laughing Water ''Laughing Water'' is a live album by the instrumental Grateful Dead cover band Jazz Is Dead. Subtitled ''Wake of the Flood Revisited'', it is a reinterpretation of the Grateful Dead's 1973 album. It was JID's second release, and was recorded in ...

'' – Jazz Is Dead – 1999 *'' Don't Let Go'' – Jerry Garcia Band – 2001 * ''

Worcester, MA, 4/4/73 ''Worcester, MA, 4/4/73'' is an album by the country rock band the New Riders of the Purple Sage. It was recorded live at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts on April 4, 1973. It was released on May 20, 2003. It was the first of a s ...

'' – 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 * '' Garcia Live Volume 17'' – Jerry Garcia Band – 2021 * '' Garcia Live Volume 21'' – Jerry Garcia Band – 2024

References

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.
Donna Jean Godchaux Interview
at NAMM Oral History Collection (2017) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Godchaux, Donna Jean 1947 births Living people American women rock singers American mezzo-sopranos Grateful Dead members Singers from Alabama Musicians from Florence, Alabama Heart of Gold Band members 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers Jerry Garcia Band members Rock musicians from Alabama Donna Jean Godchaux Band members

Biography

Discography

As group leader or co-leader

With the Grateful Dead

With other artists

See also

References

External links