Grateful Lifeless singer Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay has died aged 78.
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay has handed away on the age of 78
The singer – who spent seven years within the legendary rock band in addition to acting on chart-topping hits for each Elvis Presley and Percy Sledge – handed away on Sunday (02.11.25) at a hospice in Nashville “after a prolonged wrestle with most cancers”.
A press release from Godchaux-MacKay’s consultant learn: “She was a candy and warmly stunning spirit, and all those that knew her are united in loss.
“The household requests privateness at the moment of grieving. Within the phrases of Lifeless lyricist Robert Hunter, ‘Might the 4 winds blow her safely house.'”
Born in Alabama, Donna started her profession as a session singer and carried out backing vocals on the No.1 hits When a Man Loves a Girl by Percy Sledge and Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds – in addition to on data by Cher, Neil Diamond and Dionne Warwick.
She recalled to AL.com in 2016: “I used to be singing from just about as quickly as I might speak. I keep in mind very distinctly once I was six years outdated, I knew I used to be going to be a singer and I might sit out on my again porch and sing to the highest of my lungs day by day.”
She then moved to California and married keyboard participant Keith Godchaux, with the pair occurring the be a part of the Grateful Lifeless collectively.
Donna remained within the band – fronted by the late Jerry Garcia – for seven years and contributed to 6 albums, together with Wake of the Flood and From the Mars Lodge.
She mentioned of enjoying with the Grateful Lifeless: “It was nice enjoyable. I liked singing with these guys and we had an absolute blast.”
Donna and Keith determined to go away the group in 1979 and fashioned the Coronary heart of Gold Band the next yr, though it was tragically short-lived as Keith handed away on the age of 32 following a automotive accident in California.
The singer then married bassist David MacKay – a member of the band Fiddleworms – in 1981 and the pair performed collectively in her personal Donna Jean Godchaux Band.
Godchaux-MacKay was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1994 as a member of the Grateful Lifeless.
Donna is survived by her husband David and their son Kinsman, in addition to her son Zion ‘Rock’ Godchaux from her first marriage.
