Heart of Gold Band
| Heart of Gold Band | |
|---|---|
| Origin | San Francisco, California |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1980–81, 2004–present |
| Labels | Heart of Gold Records |
| Associated acts | Grateful Dead, Donna Jean Godchaux Band, Zero, BoomBox, Fiddleworms |
| Website | www.heartofgoldband.com |
| Members |
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay Greg Anton Zion Godchaux Brian Godchaux David MacKay Kinsman MacKay Mark Adler Russ Randolf |
| Past members |
Keith Godchaux Steve Kimock Dexter LaBlanc Greta Rose |
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.[1][2] The band took its name from a line in the Dead song "Scarlet Begonias".
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 Kimock, 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.[3][4]
A self-titled CD was released in 1998, 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 Records.[5]
The group is currently on hiatus, but Donna Godchaux, David MacKay and Mark Adler are touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band.
Notes
- ↑ The Heart of Gold Band at Allmusic
- ↑ Heart of Gold Band / Ghosts at the Grateful Dead Family Discography
- ↑ Trager, Oliver (1997). The American Book of the Dead: The Definitive Grateful Dead Encyclopedia. Fireside. p. 1963. ISBN 0-684-81402-1.
- ↑ Budnick, Dean (1998). Jam Bands: North America's Hottest Live Groups. ECW Press. p. 270. ISBN 1-55022-353-4.
- ↑ "The Heart of Gold Band", by Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, on the band's official website
