The Grateful Dead started playing as a band in the mid-1960s. They came from the San Francisco area. The group made its first show under the name Grateful Dead on December 4, 1965. That show is seen by many as their debut. The band released its first album, called The Grateful Dead, in March 1967. The group grew by playing a lot of live shows. Fans loved their long music jams, as the band did not chase pop hits. They were engaged in lengthy shows and used different music each time.Donna Jean Godchaux was a member of the band during the 1970s. She passed away at the age of 78 on November 2, 2025, in Nashville after a long battle with cancer. Her first role was as a session singer at Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Her initial move to California led to her joining the Grateful Dead, along with her husband, Keith Godchaux, in 1971. They both departed the band in 1979.Her story is part of the band's story. Donna Jean also had a very prominent vocal presence and was featured on many Grateful Dead studio albums. She also sang lead on Wake of the Flood, From the Mars Hotel, and Blues for Allah, plus she sang on the band's album releases of Terrapin Station and Shakedown Street. Sometimes she sang lead, and sometimes she sang with the band. Donna Jean Godchaux added a distinctive voice to the band.Donna Jean went on to a music life after the band. She led the Donna Jean Band and other groups. She kept singing for many years and played with other musicians and with old friends. In 2016, she joined some members of the Grateful Dead on stage at Bonnaroo. That was one of her last big shows with old band members.Many people who knew Donna Jean spoke kindly about her. A statement said she was a warm and sweet spirit. Fans and musicians sent notes of loss and thanks. Her role in the band is one part of a larger story about the Grateful Dead.Early days and how the band Grateful Dead was formedThe Grateful Dead began as a small group of friends who liked folk and blues music. Before they used the name Grateful Dead, they played as Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions and as the Warlocks. The move to electric instruments and long shows led them to change the name. By late 1965, they were having shows in San Francisco and nearby towns. Their style mixed blues, folk, rock, and a kind of free music jam. This made them different from many bands then.They built a loyal fan base. Fans who followed their tours were called Deadheads. The band toured for many years and played many live shows. They also made studio albums, but their live shows made their name. Over time, the band had many members and many friends join on stage. Each change added to their sound and history.The band's performance - Source: GettyDonna Jean Godchaux's time with the band and her later lifeDonna Jean Godchaux joined the Grateful Dead in 1971 with her husband, Keith, who played keyboards where Ron "Pigpen" McKernan once played. Donna Jean sang both lead and backup parts. She is heard on key songs from the 1970s, and she had a strong and clear mezzo voice. She shared songs with Bob Weir and others and also co-wrote and sang on some tracks.After leaving the band, she kept making music. She and Keith made a duo album. After Keith died, she kept working in music. Her last studio album came out in 2014. She also performed now and then with groups that were connected to the Grateful Dead. In later life, she lived in the United States and stayed close to music.Her death marks the end of a long musical life. She is part of the story of a band that shaped live music in America. Fans will remember her voice on stage and on records. The band's debut in 1965 and her joining in 1971 are clear milestones in the story.Many fans recall special live shows. Some shows have titles like the 1977 Cornell concert. That show is shared often by fans and is seen as a great performance. The band also played in places no rock band expected. They even played in Egypt in 1978 at the Giza plateau.Donna Jean sang on many of those tour shows in the 1970s. Her voice is on many bootleg recordings that fans keep. She helped give the band more voices and more song styles. Today, people play and share those shows and remember her, so her music will always live on.