Donna Godchaux

Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux Mackay (born August 22, 1947) is a singer best known for having been a member of the rock group Grateful Dead. Donna was born in Sheffield, Alabama. Prior to 1970, Donna Godchaux had worked as a back-up singer in Muscle Shoals, appearing on songs by Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. She met fellow Grateful Dead member Keith Godchaux and they married in 1970.

The couple introduced themselves at a Jerry Garcia concert in October 1971. At the time, Donna was not working as a musician. She joined the band shortly afterwards, remaining a member until February 1979. The precise circumstances of her leaving is disputed, although it is agreed that heavy drug use on both sides of the rift triggered the departure.

Donna provided passionate back-up vocals in the group's music. During their membership in the Grateful Dead, the couple also issued the mostly self-written Keith and Donna album in 1975 with Jerry Garcia as a Keith and Donna Band member. In turn, they performed as part of the Jerry Garcia Band.

Keith and Donna's son Zion was born in 1974.

After the Grateful Dead, the couple played in the group Ghosts, which became The Heart of Gold Band.

Donna did not perform again with any Grateful Dead band members until after the death of Jerry Garcia. Shortly after Keith died, Donna had a religious experience and converted to Evangelical Christianity. She went on to remarry Dave Mackay, a bass player. The couple moved back to work at the Muscle Shoals studios. They presently form part of the Donna Jean Band. Her daughter, Lisa Mackay, sings backup vocals in the Grateful Dead tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra (singing the exact same parts as her mother).