Keith Godchaux
| Keith Godchaux | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Keith Richard Godchaux |
| Born | July 19, 1948 Seattle, Washington |
| Origin | San Francisco, California |
| Died | July 23, 1980 (aged 32) Marin County, California |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Keyboard instruments |
| Years active | 1971–1980 |
| Associated acts | Grateful Dead, Heart of Gold Band |
Keith Richard Godchaux (July 19, 1948 – July 23, 1980) was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.
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[edit] Biography
Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California. He met and married Donna Jean Godchaux in 1970; their son Zion, of the band BoomBox, was born in 1974.
The couple introduced themselves to Jerry Garcia at a concert in 1971. At the time, Godchaux had been appearing with Dave Mason (formerly of Traffic). He was also known to Betty Cantor-Jackson, a Grateful Dead sound engineer. His first show with the Dead was October 19, 1971 at the Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota, filling in for a hospitalized Ron "Pigpen" McKernan.
In 1972 and for much of his career, Godchaux played acoustic piano; however, he played the Fender Rhodes frequently in 1973 and 1974. During his tenure with the Dead his only written contribution and lead vocal was "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away," from Wake of the Flood. It was only performed five times in 1973. Godchaux left the band 1979 and was replaced by Brent Mydland.
Godchaux incorporated a rudimentary and boogie-influenced piano during his tenure with the Dead, complementing the band's improvisational approach to rock music. Keith and Donna Godchaux also issued the mostly self-written Keith and Donna album in 1975 with Jerry Garcia as a member of their band. The album was recorded at their home in Stinson Beach, where they lived in the 1970s.[1] In turn, they performed as part of the Jerry Garcia Band. Subsequently, Godchaux co-wrote songs with Lowell George (of Little Feat) and Robert Hunter.
After Godchaux's time with the Grateful Dead, he and his wife formed The Heart of Gold Band.
Godchaux died in an automobile accident in Marin County, California, in July 1980, at the age of 32.[2]
[edit] See also
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Grateful Dead portal |
[edit] References
- ^ Grateful Dead Family Discography: Keith and Donna Godchaux, accessed February 2, 2008
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. pp. 344. CN 5585.
