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: Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead: History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice)
On July 13, 1973, “Warner Bros” label released “History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice)”, the fourth Grateful Dead live album (the ninth Grateful Dead album overall). It was recorded in February 1970, and was produced by Owsley Stanley.
Personnel:
- Jerry Garcia –vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, lead guitar
- Ron “Pigpen” McKernan – vocals, acoustic guitar, organ, percussion, harmonica
- Bob Weir – vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, electric guitar
- Phil Lesh – vocals, bass guitar
- Mickey Hart – drums, percussion
- Bill Kreutzmann – drums, percussion
- Peter McQuaid – executive production
Track listing:
- Katie Mae – Lightnin’ Hopkins
- Dark Hollow – Bill Browning
- I’ve Been All Around This World – traditional
- Wake Up Little Susie – Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
- Black Peter – Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter
- Smokestack Lightning – Howlin Wolf
- Hard to Handle – Al Bell, Allen Jones, Otis Redding
- Good Lovin’ – Rudy Clark. Arthur Resnick
- Big Boss Man – Al Smith, Luther Dixon
- Smokestack Lightning – Howlin’ Wolf
- Sitting on the Top of the World – Lonnie Chatmon, Walter Vinson
Phil Lesh
On October 25, 2024, Philip Chapman Lesh died aged 84. He was musician (bass, trumpet) and singer, member of the bands The Other Ones, The Dead, Furthur, Phil Lesh and Friends, but was best known as founding member and bass player of Grateful Dead.
Grateful Dead: Anthem Of The Sun
On July 18, 1968, “Warner Bros” label released “Anthem of the Sun”, the second Grateful Dead studio album. It was recorded September 1967 – March 1968, at “American Studios” in Los Angeles, “RCA Victor Studio A” in Hollywood, “Century Sound” and “Olmstead Studios” in New York City, “Criteria Recording Studiios” in Miami, Florida, and was produced by David Hassinger, Jerry Garcia, Non Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Ron McKernan. The album was ranked number 288 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Jerry Garcia – lead vocals, vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, vibraslap, arrangements
- Bob Weir – lead and co-lead vocals, vocals, rhythm guitar, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, arrangements
- Ron “Pigpen” McKernan – lead vocals, vocals, Hammond organ, Vox organ, celesta, claves, arrangements
- Phil Lesh – vocals, bass guitar, trumpet, harpsichord, kazoo, piano, timpani, arrangements
- Mickey Hart – drums, orchestra bells, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals, arrangements
- Bill Kreutzmann – drums, glockenspiel, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals, arrangements
- Tom Constanten – prepared piano, piano, electronic tape
- Dan Healy – executive engineer
- Bob Matthews – engineer assistant
- Ed Trasher – artwork
- Bill Walker – artwork
- Thomas Weir – liner photography
Track listing:
That’s It for the Other One
- Cryptical Envelopment – Jerry Garcia
- Quadlibet for Tender Feet – Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron McKerman, Bob Weir
- The Faster We Go, The Rounder We Get – Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir
- We Leave the Castle – Tom Constsnten
- New Potato Caboose – Phil Lesh, Robert Petersen
- Boen Cross-Eyed – Bob Weir
- Alligator – Phil Lesh, Robert Hunter, Ron McKermann
- Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks) – Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Ron McKermann
David Sanborn
On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.
Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead
On March 17, 1967, “Warner Bros” label released “The Grateful Dead”, the debut Grateful Dead studio album. It was recorded in January 1967, at “RCA Studio A” in Los Angeles, and was produced by David Hassinger.
Personnel:
- Jerry “Captain Trips” Garcia – vocals, lead guitar, arrangements
- Bob Weir – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Ron “Pigpen” McKernan – vocals, Vox Continental organ, harmonica
- Phil Lesh – vocals, bass guitar
- Bill The Drummer (Bill Kreutzmann) – drums, percussion
- Dick Bogert – engineer
- Betty Cantor – engineer
- Bob Cassidy – engineer
- Mouse Studios – design
- Herb Greene – cover photography
- Gene Anthony – liner photography
Track listing:
- The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) – McGannahan Skjellyfetti
- Beat It On Down the Line – Jessy Fuller
- Good Morning Little School Girl – Sonny Boy Williamson
- Cold Rain and Snow – Obray Chatmon
- Sitting on Top of the World – Lonnie Chatmon, Walter Vinson
- Cream Puff War – Jerry Garcia
- Morning Dew – Bonnie Robson, Tim Rose
- New, New Minglewood Blues – Noah Lewis
- Viola Lee Blues – Noah Lewis
Keith Olsen
On March 9, 2020, Keith Alan Olsen died aged 74. He was music producer and sound engineer, worked on more than 100 albums. As producer he earned 24 Platinum and 14 multi-Platinum album certifications. He has worked with many artists including Eternity’s Children, The Millennium, James Gang, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Sons of Champlin, Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, Foreigner, Santana, The Babys, Rick Springfield, Pat Benatar, Sammy Hagar, Rick Springfielld, Heart, Kim Carnes, Joe Walsh, 38 Special, Bad Company, Saga, Whitesnake, Starship, Carlos Santana, Ozzy Osbourne, Night Ranger, Kingdom Come, Magnum, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Journey, Eddie Money, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Scorpions.
Brent Mydland
On July 26, 1990, Brent Mydland died aged 37. He was singer, songwriter, and musician (keyboards), member of bands Silver, Bobby and the Midnites, worked with Go Ahead, and Kokomo, but was best known as keyboard player of Grateful Dead.
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.
Robert Hunter
On September 23, 2019, Robert C. Hunter died aged 78. He was lyricist, singer-songwriter, musician (guitar, mandolin), translator and poet. He has cooperated with various artists, such as Bob Dylan, Little Feat, Jim Lauderdale, Elvis Costello, Cesar Rosas, Bruce Hornsby and New Riders of the Purple Sage , but was best known by his work with Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead. In 2013, Hunter received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Americana Music Association”. Hunter has released 14 solo albums.
musicalphabet 