Heart of Gold Band
Encyclopedia
The Heart of Gold Band is an American rock band formed by Keith
and Donna Jean Godchaux in 1980 following their departure from the Grateful Dead
. The band took its name from a line in the Dead song "Scarlet Begonias
."
, drummer Greg Anton, bassist Dexter LaBlanc and vocalist Greta Rose. Keith Godchaux was killed in a car accident on July 23, 1980, just a few days after the band's first gig. The band continued on for another year, adding keyboardist Mark Adler and replacing Dexter LaBlanc with Donna Godchaux's future husband, David MacKay, before disbanding.
In 1998 a self titled CD was released, containing 13 tracks recorded by the original band, 11 of them prior to Keith Godchaux's death.
.
The group is currently on hiatus, but Donna Godchaux, David MacKay, and Mark Adler are touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band
.
Keith Godchaux
Keith Richard Godchaux was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.-Biography:Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California...
and Donna Jean Godchaux in 1980 following their departure from the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. The band took its name from a line in the Dead song "Scarlet Begonias
Scarlet Begonias
"Scarlet Begonias" is a song by the Grateful Dead in 4/4 time. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and the music by Jerry Garcia. The song first appears on the 1974 release Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel....
."
Original Run
The Heart of Gold Band was formed in early 1980, shortly after Keith and Donna Godchaux had left the Grateful Dead in 1979. Other founding members of the group were guitarist Steve KimockSteve Kimock
-External links:** at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at Internet Archive's live music archive*, San Francisco, April 3, 1999*, Unofficial Fan Forum...
, drummer Greg Anton, bassist Dexter LaBlanc and vocalist Greta Rose. Keith Godchaux was killed in a car accident on July 23, 1980, just a few days after the band's first gig. The band continued on for another year, adding keyboardist Mark Adler and replacing Dexter LaBlanc with Donna Godchaux's future husband, David MacKay, before disbanding.
In 1998 a self titled CD was released, containing 13 tracks recorded by the original band, 11 of them prior to Keith Godchaux's death.
Reformation
The band was reformed in 2004 when Donna Godchaux and her husband, David MacKay, were looking to form a band. They originally intended to call the group "Godchaux MacKay", but drummer Greg Anton got involved and the group was named the Heart of Gold Band. Also involved in the reconfigured group are former keyboardist Mark Adler, percussionist Russ Randolf, Keith and Donna's son Zion Godchaux, Keith's brother Brian Godchaux, and Kinsman MacKay, the son of Donna and David MacKay. The reunited band released At The Table in 2004 on their own Heart of Gold RecordsHeart of Gold Records
Heart of Gold Records is an American independent record label, established in Florence, Alabama.Artists who have released material on Heart of Gold include The Heart of Gold Band, Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, BoomBox, and Fiddleworms....
.
The group is currently on hiatus, but Donna Godchaux, David MacKay, and Mark Adler are touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band
Donna Jean Godchaux Band
The Donna Jean Godchaux Band is an American rock music group. Originally named Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue, and later Donna Jean and the Tricksters, the band was originally formed in 2007 and made up of Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay and members of the Zen Tricksters...
.