DEATHS ; Notable Passings; The Thread to Pay Last Respects

[BobHufford]

 

[Doctor Strange]

I don't know how many Deadheads are reading the forums these days, but we lost seventies vocalist Donna Godchaux:

Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay (1947-2025)

Photo Credit: Bruce Polonsky Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, who sang with the Grateful Dead from 1971 to 1979 with vocal contributions that helped define

relix.com

There were/are many, many Dead fans who never cared for her voice, but I think she was the best high-harmony vocalist they ever had... plus she brought some great feminine energy to the stage. Here's a picture I took at the Grateful Dead show in Binghamton, NY on 11/7/77:

 

[Frunobulax]

I don't know how many Deadheads are reading the forums these days, but we lost seventies vocalist Donna Godchaux:

http://[URL]https://relix.com/news/detail/donna-jean-godchaux-mackay-1947-2025/

[/URL]

There were/are many, many Dead fans who never cared for her voice, but I think she was the best high-harmony vocalist they ever had... plus she brought some great feminine energy to the stage. Here's a picture I took at the Grateful Dead show in Binghamton, NY on 11/7/77:

View attachment 744399

Never saw that version of the Dead, but she certainly added another dimension to their music. Great voice.

 

[Frunobulax]

And Diane Ladd.

And **** Cheney.

The trifecta came fast and furious this week.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

I don't know how many Deadheads are reading the forums these days, but we lost seventies vocalist Donna Godchaux:

Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay (1947-2025)

Photo Credit: Bruce Polonsky Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, who sang with the Grateful Dead from 1971 to 1979 with vocal contributions that helped define

relix.com

There were/are many, many Dead fans who never cared for her voice, but I think she was the best high-harmony vocalist they ever had... plus she brought some great feminine energy to the stage. Here's a picture I took at the Grateful Dead show in Binghamton, NY on 11/7/77:

View attachment 744399

RIP Donna. I am one of those who love that era of the Dead.

I also appreciate how much she contributed to the gospel music genre once she converted. I'm not a fan of that genre, but she continued to have a musical impact post-GD and I respect that she followed her faith.

 

[steve u]

From what I can remember I saw the Dead tour in 1977 with that lineup..GREAT SHOW!

 

[Doctor Strange]

Oh, 1977 was a definite peak. I went to twenty-plus Dead shows between 1976 and 1993... and most of the best were in 1977. I mean, I was at Cornell... I was at Englishtown. My great picture from Cornell 5/3/77:



The funny thing is, back at the time I was really disappointed that we'd missed out on seeing Pigpen, the Wall of Sound, and all the epic psychedelic madness of their young firebrand period.

Looking back now, I feel insanely lucky: they were in ridiculously GREAT form in the late 70s!

 

[Frunobulax]

Mine were between 1981 and 1993, so Brent was with them for most of that. A couple Vince shows near the end.

How many? Somewhere in the 30s. I just tell people, "one fewer than my wife."

 

[jchance]

And **** Cheney.

Cheney was a big deal during his time, but he’s kind of forgotten now. His daughter as a politician is still plenty influential though.

 

[Frunobulax]

RIP James D. Watson

https://www.chemistryworld.com/news...e-structure-of-dna-dies-at-97/4022469.article

 

[Trenchfriend]

R.I.P, Udo Kier!!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Singer & songwriter Todd Snider, Nov 14, 2025. Probably most known for Beer Run.

 

[BobHufford]

Jimmy Cliff (1944 - 1925).

 

[BobHufford]

Alice Brock (yes, that Alice) died just before Thanksgiving on November 21st. Age 83.

 

[BobHufford]

Steve Cropper … a local boy. Dead at 84.

 

[carouselvic]

Raul Malo has lost his battle with cancer.

 

[tonyb]

I don't know how many Deadheads are reading the forums these days, but we lost seventies vocalist Donna Godchaux:

http://[URL][URL]https://relix.com/news/detail/donna-jean-godchaux-mackay-1947-2025/

[/URL][/URL]

There were/are many, many Dead fans who never cared for her voice, but I think she was the best high-harmony vocalist they ever had... plus she brought some great feminine energy to the stage. Here's a picture I took at the Grateful Dead show in Binghamton, NY on 11/7/77:

View attachment 744399

This prompted me to look into what else this woman might have done. Quite a bit, as it turns out. She sang backup vocals on the Percy Sledge recording of ”When a Man Loves a Woman,” and on Elvis Presley‘s “Suspicious Minds,” among many others. So, she’s among the many session musicians almost everyone has heard even if relatively few have ever heard her name.

 

[RBH]

Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner

https://people.com/rob-reiner-wife-michele-were-killed-by-son-sources-11868856

 

[Doctor Damage]

Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner

https://people.com/rob-reiner-wife-michele-were-killed-by-son-sources-11868856

That was a shock to hear on the radio news this morning.
I just saw the following posted on bluesky:

Here's what I remember Reiner from:

 

[Trenchfriend]

I never saw "Stand by me", probably I should?