On November 2, 2025, Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux-MacKay died aged 78. She was singer member of the bands Heart of Gold Band, Jerry Garcia Band, Dinna Jean Godchaux Band, but was best known as member and singer of Grateful Dead (1972 – 1979). Donna Jean recorded with Elvis Presley, Cher, Boz Scaggs, Johnny Jenkins, Bob Weir, David Bromberg, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jerry Garcia, Zero, Jazz Is Dead and Robert Hunter. As leader or co-leader she released eight albums.
Tag Archives: Cher
Cher: 3614 Jackson Highway
On June 20, 1969, “ATCO” label released “3614 Jackson Highway”, the sixth Cher album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Studios” in Sheffield, Alabama, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Stan Vincent, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin.
Personnel:
- Cher – lead vocals
- Jimmy Johnson – rhythm guitar
- Eddie Hinton – lead guitar
- Barry Beckett – keyboards
- David Hood – bass guitar
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Jeanie Greene, Donna Jean Godchaux (née Thatcher), Mary Holladay, Sue Pilkington – backing vocals
- Greg Poree – arrangements assistance
- Bryan Lasley – art direction
- Patrick Pending – art direction
- Stephen Paley – photography
Track listing:
- For What It’s Worth – Stephen Stills
- (Just Enough to Keep Me) Hangin’ On – Buddy Mize, Ira Allen
- (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay – Steve Cropper, Otis Redding
- Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You – Bob Dylan
- I Threw It All Away – Bob Dylan
- I Walk on Guided Splinters – Dr. John Creaux
- Lay, Baby, Lay – Bob Dylan
- Please Don’t Tell Me – Carroll W. Quillen, Grady Smith
- Cry Like a Baby – Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn
- Do Right Woman, Do Right Man – Chips Moman
- Save the Children – Eddie Hinton
Pete Sinfield
On November 14, 2024, Peter John Sinfield died aged 80. He was poet and songwriter, founding member of the band A Bowl of Soup, but was best known as co-founder and lyricist of King Crimson. He wrote lyrics for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Angelo Branduardi, Andy Hill, McDonalds and Giles, Robert Sheckley, Brian Eno, Gary Brooker, Nikka Costa, Buck Fizz, Moon Martin, Leo Sayer, Five Star, Flairck, Agnetha Fältskog, Cher, Celine Dion, David Cross, and Ian McDonald. Sinfield released book of lyrics and poems titled “Under the Sky”, and as leader he released one album.
Cher: All I Really Want To Do
On August 16, 1965, “Imperial” label released “All I Really Want to Do”, the debut Cher studio album. It was recorded in 1965, at “Gold Star” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Sonny Bono.
Personnel:
- Cher – lead vocals
- Monte Dunn – guitar
- Jeff Kaplan – guitar
- Barney Kessel – guitar
- Steve Mann – guitar
- Donald Peake – guitar
- Mike Post – guitar
- Randy Sterling – guitar
- Harold Battiste – piano
- Michel Rubini – keyboards
- Bill Marx – accordion, keyboards
- René Hall – bass guitar
- Cliff Hills – bass guitar
- Mel Pollan – bass guitar
- Lyle Ritz – bass guitar
- Frank Capp – drums
- Sharkey Hall – drums
- Jessie Sailes – drums
- Frank DeVito – percussion
- Gene Estes – percussion
- Brian Stone – percussion
- Julius Wechter – percussion
- Harold Battiste – arrangements
Track listing:
- All I Really Want to Do – Bob Dylan
- I Go to Sleep – Ray Davies
- Needles and Pins – Sonny Bono, Jack Nitzsche
- Don’t Think Twice – Bob Dylan
- He Think I Still Care – Dickey Lee Lipscomb
- Dream Baby – Sonny Bono
- The Bells of Rhymney – Idris Davies, Pete Seeger
- Gir Don’t Come – Chris Andrews
- See See Rider – traditional, arranged by Sonny Bono, Charles Greene, Robert Stone
- Come and Stay with Me – Jackie DeShannon
- Cry Myself to Sleep – Mike Gordon
- Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
Sonny & Cher: Look at Us
On August 2, 1965. “Atco” label released “Look at Us”, the debut Sonny & Cher studio album. It was recorded in 1965, and was produced by Sonny Bono.
Personnel:
- Cher – co-lead vocals
- Sonny Bono – co-lead vocals
- Barney Kessel – guitar
- Steve Mann – guitar
- Monte Dunn – guitar
- Donald Peake – guitar
- Harold Battiste – piano
- Don Randi – piano
- Lyle Ritz – bass guitar
- Cliff Hills – bass guitar
- Frank Capp – drums
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Gene Estes – percussion
- Brian Stone – percussion
- Michel Rubini – harpsichord
- Harold Battiste Jr. – arrangements
- Stan Ross – engineer
- Haig Adishian – design
- Robert W. Young – photography
Track listing:
- I Got You Babe – Sonny Bono
- Unchained Melody – Hy Zaret, Alex North
- Then He Kissed Me – Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry
- Sing C’est la Vie – Sonny Bono, Charles Green, Brian Stone
- It’s Gonna Rain – Sonny Bono
- 500 Miles – Hedy West
- Just You – Sonny Bono
- The Letter – Don Harris, Dewey Terry
- Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
- You Don’t Love Me – Bo Diddley, Willie Cobba
- You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
- Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love – Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry
Mo Foster
On July 3, 2023, Michael Ralph “Mo” Foster died aged 79. He was multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, author, and public speaker. In his career spanning over half a century, Foster recorded and performed with dozens of artists, including Jeff Beck, Gil Evans, Phil Collins, Ringo Starr, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Brian May, Scott Walker, Frida (of ABBA), Cliff Richard, Van Morrison, Dr John, Hank Marvin, Heaven 17, the London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Green, Micheal Schenker, Gary Moore, Sting, Cher, Olivia Newton John, Elkie Brroks, Neil Innes, Judie Tzuke, Sheena Easton, Meat Loaf, Trevor Rabin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Luka Bloom, Tim Rice, Nigel Kennedy, Affinity, Mike d’Abo, Roger Glover, Jimmy Helms. Fancy, Veronique Sanson, Mike Smith, Cerrone, Ray Russell, Andy Bown, The Walker Brothers, Chris Rainbow, Dollar, Dennis Waterman, Eric Clapton, RMS, Bob Geldof, Joe Walsh, Tony Banks, Leo Sayer, Russ Ballard, Claudio Baglioni, Kenny Rogers, Howard Jones, Tanita Tikaram, Georger Martin, Nancy Griffith and Maggie Bell. As leader, Foster released several albums, and authored a humorous book on the history of British rock guitar. In 2014, he was awarded with the “BASCA Gold Badge Award”.
Gene Page
On August 24, 1998, Eugene Edgar Page Jr. aka Gene Page, died aged 58. He was a conductor, composer, arranger, and record producer, one of the most successful arrangers and conductors from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, who worked on more than 200 Platinum and gold records. He created specific sound in the arrangements, and work with numerous artists including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, George Benson, The Jackson 5, Jefferson Starship, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Roberta Flack, Elton John, Leo Sayer, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Frankie Valli, Helen Reddy, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Donna Loren, Martha and The Vandellas, Cher, Barry White, The Love Unlimited Orchestra, and Dionne Warwick. Page released four solo albums and composed soundtracks for few movies.
Lawrence Knechtel
On August 20, 2009, Lawrence William Knechtel died aged 69. He was a musician (keyboards, bass), a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians, and the band Bread. He recorded with big number of renowned artists including Elvis Presley, The Byrds, Barbra Streisand, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Cher, Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Mamas & the Papas, The Monkees, the Partridge Family, Paul Simon, Chet Baker, Jerry Garcia, Dave mason, Nancy Sinatra, Howard Roberts, Thelma Houston, Glen Campbell, Peter Allen, Barry Mann, Lalo Schifrin, Jimmy Webb, José Feliciano, Jackie DeShannon, Brian Cadd, Bobby Darin, Art Garfunkel, Stephen Bishop, David Clayton-Thomas, Billy Joel, Barry McGuire, Paul Young, Dolly Parton, Al Kooper, Johnny Rivers, John Denver, Chet Atkins, Helen Reddy, Joan Baez, Alen Roth, and Neil Diamond. Knechtel released two solo albums.
Jeff Porcaro
On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”.
Matilda Scaduto
On April 22, 2003, Matilda Genevieve Scaduto died aged 77. With her husband Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant wrote number of hits for The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. Their songs were recorded by many artists including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Tonny Bennett, Grateful Dead, Simon and Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Gram Parson, Joan Jett, The Beach Boys, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Lynn Anderson, Sonny James, Eddy Arnold, Bob Moore, Charley Pride, Nazareth, Jim Reeves, Leo Sayer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cher, R.E.M. and Ray Charles.
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