Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, who sang with the Grateful Dead in 1970s and also appeared on a number of hit records in the ’60s, has died at the age of 78.
The vocalist — whom Deadheads simply refer to as “Donna Jean” — “passed away surrounded by her family on Nov. 2 at Alive Hospice in Nashville after a lengthy struggle with cancer,” according to a news release.
“She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss,” the release continues. “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.’”
Godchaux-MacKay is best remembered for her soaring vocal work with the iconic Bay Area band Grateful Dead, touring the U.S., Europe and even Egypt with the band from 1971 to 1979. She appeared on a number of the Grateful Dead’s albums from that period.
Prior to that, the vocalist — born Donna Jean Thatcher in Florence, Alabama, on Aug. 22, 1947 — was a session singer in legendary Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Her session work included singing on a pair of chart-topping songs — Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds.”
She also sang on albums by Cher, Boz Scaggs and others.
As the ’60s came to a close, she relocated to California, where the vocalist — who sang in a mezzo-soprano range — would meet and later marry talented pianist Keith Godchaux. She’d also meet Jerry Garcia in 1971, which led to both her and Keith Godchaux joining the iconic vocalist-guitarist in the Grateful Dead.
Singing mostly backing vocals behind Bob Weir and Garcia, with an occasional turn at lead, Godchaux-MacKay endeared herself with fans as she added harmonies to such Grateful Dead favorites as “Eyes of the World” and “Playing in the Band.”
During her time with the Dead, the Godchaux couple also released their own “Keith & Donna” album in 1975 that featured contributions from Garcia. The couple would also perform as members of the Jerry Garcia Band.
After parting ways with the Dead, the husband-and-wife team went on to form the Heart of Gold Band.
Keith Godchaux died at the age of 32 following a car accident in Marin County in 1980.
In 1994, Godchaux-MacKay and Keith Godchaux were both elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as members of the Grateful Dead.
The vocalist married David MacKay in 1981 and returned to Muscle Shoals, where she kept right on making music with bass-playing husband in the Donna Jean Godchaux Band.
In more recent years, Godchaux-MacKay has performed with a number of Grateful Dead members and related projects. Notably, she has appeared with the massively popular Grateful Dead spinoff Dead & Company.
Godchaux-MacKay is survived by her husband David MacKay, her son Kinsman MacKay and his wife Molly, her son Zion Godchaux and his son Delta, her sister Gogi Clark, and her brother Ivan Thatcher.
No memorial service information has been announced at this point.