Keith Godchaux

Keith Godchaux (born July 19, 1948 in Concord , California , † July 21, 1980 in Marin County , California) was an American musician , pianist and keyboardist with the Grateful Dead from 1971 to 1979 .

biography

Godchaux grew up in San Francisco . As a child, he took five years of classical piano lessons before becoming interested in country , rock and jazz as a teenager .

In 1971 Godchaux and his wife Donna offered their services to the Grateful Dead , who were just looking for a second keyboardist to join the sick Ron McKernan . Godchaux's first concert with the Dead was on October 19, 1971, his wife followed on March 25, 1972. With his piano style influenced by jazz , Godchaux brought new timbres to the band, which perfected their improvisational style in the years to come. Even after Pigpen's death, Godchaux mostly stuck to pure piano playing, which caused many fans to miss the typical organ sound of the early years. Godchaux's most versatile keyboard work can be heard on the studio album "From The Mars Hotel". As a composer, he only contributed one song to the Grateful Dead repertoire: "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away". It's the only piece on which he also did lead vocals.

In 1975 Godchaux and his wife released their own disappointing album "Keith And Donna" as Keith and Donna Band (which until today - as of 6/2006 - has not been released on CD). 1977/78 both Godchaux 'were members of the Jerry García Band , on whose album "Cats Under The Stars" they played a key role.

Due to increasing internal differences with the Grateful Dead, the Godchaux 'left the band in early 1979. In the same year they joined The Ghosts and played in local clubs. The Ghosts went through several personnel changes and became the Heart of Gold Band in mid-1980 (named after a line of text from the Grateful Dead song "Scarlet Begonias"). Godchaux only played one concert with the Heart of Gold Band - he died a few days later, on July 21, 1980, in a car accident. A compilation of live and studio recordings of varying quality was later released on record.

Godchaux had a son, Zion Rock Godchaux , with his wife Donna Jean Godchaux.

Discography

Grateful Dead albums with Keith & Donna Godchaux:

• Europe '72 (1972)
• Wake of the Flood (1973)
• From the Mars Hotel (1974)
• Blues for Allah (1976)
• Steal Your Face (1976)
• Terrapin Station (1977)
• Shakedown Street (1978)

in addition several publications of live recordings

Side projects:

• Keith & Donna (1975)
• Double Dose (Heart Of Gold Band, 1984/1989)