Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, who sang with the Grateful Useless in Nineteen Seventies in addition to appeared on a lot of hit information within the ’60s, has died on the age of 78.
“She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss,” the discharge 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 greatest remembered for her hovering vocal work with the Bay Space’s personal Grateful Useless, touring the U.S., Europe and even Egypt with the band from 1971 to 1979. She appeared on a lot of the Grateful Useless’s albums from that interval.
Previous 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 additionally sang on albums by Cher, Boz Scaggs and others.
Because the ’60s got here to an in depth, she relocated to California, the place the vocalist — who sang in a mezzo-soprano vary — would meet and later marry proficient pianist Keith Godchaux. She’d additionally meet Jerry Garcia in 1971, which led to each her and Keith Godchaux becoming a member of the enduring vocalist-guitarist within the Grateful Useless.
Singing principally backing vocals behind Bob Weir and Garcia, with an occasional flip at lead, Godchaux-MacKay endeared herself with followers as she added harmonies to such Grateful Useless favorites as “Eyes of the World” and “Playing in the Band.”
Throughout her time with the Useless, the Godchaux couple additionally launched their very own “Keith & Donna” album in 1975 that featured contributions from Garcia. The couple would additionally carry out as members of the Jerry Garcia Band.
After parting methods with the Useless, the husband-and-wife group went on to type the Coronary heart of Gold Band.
Keith Godchaux died on the age of 32 following a automobile accident in Marin County in 1980.
In 1994, Godchaux-MacKay and Keith Godchaux had been each elected to the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame as members of the Grateful Useless.
The vocalist married David MacKay in 1981 and returned to Muscle Shoals, the place she stored proper on making music with bass-playing husband within the Donna Jean Godchaux Band.
In more moderen years, Godchaux-MacKay has carried out with a lot of Grateful Useless members and associated tasks. Notably, she has appeared with the massively common Grateful Useless spinoff Useless & Firm.
Godchaux-MacKay is survived by her husband David MacKay, her son Kinsman MacKay and his spouse Molly, her son Zion Godchaux and his son Delta, her sister Gogi Clark, and her brother Ivan Thatcher.
No memorial service info has been introduced at this level.
