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 live six times, all in 1973. Godchaux left the band 1979 and was replaced by Brent Mydland.
Performance Dates, from search on "Let Me Sing", on setlist.com:
09-08-73 Uniondale (18) 3:43
09-11-73 Williamsburg (12) 5:29
09-12-73 Williamsburg (15) 6:11
09-15-73 Providence (20) 5:18
09-17-73 Syracuse (17) 5:53
09-21-73 Philadelphia (14) 5:26
Godchaux incorporated a richly melodic, fluid and boogie-influenced piano during his tenure with the Dead, complementing the band's improvisational approach to rock music. This same style was replicated in Godchaux's work with the Jerry Garcia Band.
Keith and Donna Godchaux 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. 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.
In 1994, he was inducted, posthumously, into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead.
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