The Grateful Dead have paid tribute to their former singer Donna Jean Godchaux, who has died.
The tragic news was confirmed by her representative Dennis McNally, who said that she passed away at the age of 78 on Sunday (November 2) at a hospice facility after a “lengthy struggle with cancer”.
“She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss,” McNally added. “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.’”
Following the news of her passing, the band have taken to social media to share a tribute in her honour. They wrote: “It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Donna Jean Godchaux. Her unmistakable voice and radiant spirit touched the lives of countless fans and immeasurably enriched the Grateful Dead family.”
The Grateful Dead continued: “Her contributions will forever remain part of the tapestry that continues to be woven. We send our deepest condolences to her loved ones and ask for privacy for her family during this time.”
Godchaux joined the Dead in 1971 alongside her husband Keith, who played keyboards. She sang on several seminal records by the psychedelic giants, including ‘Europe ‘72’, ‘Wake Of The Flood’ and ‘Terrapin Station’, and many of the band’s famous bootleg live recordings.
In addition to their work with the Grateful Dead, Donna and Keith Godchaux released the album ‘Keith & Donna’ in 1975, which featured contributions from Dead frontman Jerry Garcia.
Before that, she had a successful career as a session singer, singing backing vocals on huge hits such as ‘Suspicious Minds’ and ‘In The Ghetto’ by Elvis Presley and ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’ by Percy Sledge. She had also worked with Cher, Neil Diamond, Duane Allman and Boz Scaggs during that late-’60s period.
Following Godchaux and Keith’s exit from The Grateful Dead in 1979, the pair formed the short-lived Heart Of Gold Band, which came to an end with Keith’s sudden death the following year.
Godchaux would continue to make music, forming the Donna Jean Godchaux Band and Donna Jean And The Tricksters in the ‘80s, before starting a solo career in 1998 with a self-titled record. Her final record ‘Back Around’ was recorded with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band alongside Jeff Mattson and was released in 2014.
Her death follows the passing of founding Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh last October at the age of 84. In August, Dead And Company – made up of band alumni Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, alongside others – played three sold-out nights in San Francisco to mark the Dead’s 60th anniversary.