Beginning last week, flags across the United States flew at half mast following the announcement of the passing of former Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux. In the 1960s, the Alabama native began her professional singing career in the nearby Muscle Shoals scene, where she backed Percy Sledge on “When a Man Loves a Woman,” and continuing up to Memphis to back Elvis on “Suspicious Minds.” During this period, she also provided vocal support for other recording artists, including Duane Allman, Boz Scaggs, Cher, and Neil Diamond.

The following year, 1970, Donna sought a change of scene in San Francisco. By the end of that year she had met and married her husband, keyboardist Keith Godchaux, and experienced her first Grateful Dead concert, likely an October 4 or 5 date at Winterland. Describing the show a a “spiritual” experience, she soon introduced herself to Jerry Garcia and informed him that her husband would be the band’s new piano player. Keith joined the band in 1971, and Donna did the same shortly thereafter. With founding member Pigpen’s vocals and organ work in decline (and all the way gone by 1972),* the Godchaux’s tenure with the band, which extended until 1979, marks what many consider the Grateful Dead’s best era.

We had the good fortune of catching Donna on stage in a surprise appearance with her former bandmates Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart during Dead & Company’s headlining appearance at Bonnaroo in 2016. (So far as I know, it marked her only appearance with that group.) For a first live experience of Grateful Dead music from a band of original members, it was hard to imagine topping this.

A musical life of this breadth merits multiple selections. Here are my four selections for this week’s jam:

* For a fun taste of this interesting transition period– between 1971-72, Keith and then Donna joined the band, while Mickey Hart (temporarily) and Pigpen (permanently) departed– check out December 10, 1971. That night in St. Louis found the Dead in a rare six-man lineup amidst the crossing lines of those four members.