Keith Godchaux

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Keith Godchaux


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Keith Richard Godchaux
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Born = birth date|1948|7|19
Seattle, Washington, United States
Died = death date and age|1980|7|23|1948|7|19
Marin County, California, United States
Origin = San Francisco, California, United States
Instrument = Keyboard instruments
Genre = Rock
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1972–1980
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Associated_acts = Grateful Dead
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Keith Richard Godchaux (July 19, 1948 – 23 July, 1980) 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. He met and married Donna Jean Godchaux in 1970; their son Zion, of the band BoomBox, was born in 1974.

The couple introduced themselves at a Jerry Garcia concert in October 1971. At the time, Keith Godchaux had been appearing with Dave Mason (formerly of Traffic). He was also known to Betty Cantor-Jackson, a Grateful Dead sound engineer. He joined the band shortly afterwards, remaining a member until February 1979.

In 1972 and for much of his career, Godchaux played acoustic piano; however, he played the Fender Rhodes frequently in 1973 and 1974. He had an ability to home in on and provide perfectly timed Fender Rhodes baritone solos that enhanced Jerry's solos in 1974. Godchaux was replaced by Brent Mydland in 1979.

Godchaux played provocative, jazz-influenced piano during his tenure with the Dead, spurring some of their most adventurous group improvisations. Keith and Donna 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. [ [http://www.deaddisc.com/disc/Keith_And_Donna.htm Grateful Dead Family Discography: Keith and Donna Godchaux] , accessed February 2, 2008] In turn, they performed as part of the Jerry Garcia Band. Godchaux also appeared with the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Subsequently, he co-wrote songs with Lowell George (of Little Feat) and Robert Hunter.

After Keith Godchaux's time with the Grateful Dead, he and Donna formed The Heart of Gold Band.

Godchaux died in an automobile accident in Marin County, California, in 1980.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.dead101.com/keith.htm Keith Godchaux Home] at [http://www.dead101.com Dead101.com]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9584758 Photo]