[mike0hiostate]

I do think she had remarkable talent. Just not with the Dead, and not in live concerts. She doens't even sound good on Bob Weir's "Ace." I do think she sounded good on the studio version of "The Music Never Stopped."



BTW- I always kinda thought Donna & Bob had something going on between them? Anyone else ever get that vibe? Maybe I'm crazy.

[jck_strw]

I was never a big fan of Donna. I liked her singing, but the fact that she was always off-key was really annoying. And her songs were always the 70s version of Corrina (ie--bathrooom breaks). She always seemed to suck the life out of a show (briefly) when she would bring in one of her tunes.

Recently I picked up the JGB band disc, Warner Theatre 3-18-78. Donna sings on that disc with Maria Muldaur. And, suprisingly, Donna sounds great. Seriously. My wife couldn't believe it was her when I popped in the disc and she heard her singing on I'll Be With Thee.

So if Donna was on-key and didn't sing one of her momentum killing songs, I was all for her. Otherwise, she could just sway along her in Jesus robes without making a sound and I'm happy.

[Guest]

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL,BUT YOU CAN GET PROGRAMS TO REMOVE HER. I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE'S,BUT MY FRIEND HAS REMOVED HER FROM ALL OF MINE.

[strumminsix]

HOWEYMAN ~ don't fret (ha!, fret...) over closed-minded posts like that especially when someone has "guest" under their name. The internet is for everyone and unfortunately argumentative people rear their heads...

[spilly]

You better watch your ass Kenny, if your not careful, someone might mistake you for a deadhead.

about Donna Jean, she's a fantadstic harmonic singer, one of the best. unfortunatly, her solo voice could drive a man up a wall.

I agree with Kenny though, she was indeed hot

I once saw a bumper sticker that said "Donna Jean ruined all my tapes" I got a good laugh out of it, probably cause nobody else got it.
I disagree with this slightly though, she didn't ruin all my tapes, just about 75% of the ones she sang on. She didn't fit.

[mikeohio2stae]

kenny, thanks for the post. I enjoyed reading it.

[Shaggy]

I don't think she fitted into the dead set up very well, I don't think she gave the band anything to be honest. Only in the Grateful Dead would that happen as it did!

But she did prove her worth in the JGB, around the Cats Under The Stars period, she was very much invloved and it suited her better. The song Rain that she wrote is a song I like a alot.

[Guest]

Kenny,

I enjoy the posts very much. Theory and Written ones,
very interesting.

Thank you for your efforts and may the new year
be a healthy fun time.

Hope ya post another 250.

Cathy

[Guest]

p.s.

We need more women on rukind.

[mikeohistate]

haha ironic,
you and donna are about the only ones.. and well.. donna isnt so popular

[ebick]

you and donna are about the only ones

Careful now....I mean I know who I am, but I also know a few other folks who's usernames <> their real names......ya never know.

[phreaker]

I say this a lot, but I think it's kinda funny how people are being so critical on how the Dead sounded vocal-wise.

The Dead didnt ask for their fame, it just kinda...happened. They didnt go out and search deep for great vocalists. Admit, Pigpen was probably their best vocalist (remember, this forum is for your opinions) he had a good strong voice, and did a damn good job with lovelight. the song just wasnt the same without him. Wier..he just kinda tried to hard, his voice always cracked--intentionally, and he kinda sounded like a higher Elvis. Poor Phil tried to put it all into the final performance of Box of Rain (last song they ever played) but just kinda wailed like a drunken fool.

so what if Donna screeched, the Dead were about having a good time, not to listen to classically trained (accept phil) musicians.

I just think people are judging these fun-loving hippies too harsh.

if the members were happy with what was going on, then I'm happy, just let it go, dont be so uptight about all of this.

look what happened when GDM got uptight about the music.

peace.

[strumminsix]

[quote="Kenny"]
The rumors of him liking young ladies are true.
[/quote]

Sadly. I knew of his close relations with JG at the end and how he was essential in the band. He was the type of person who a better bandmate than better bandmember, if you know what I mean. Said differently, he was the right person but not the right musician, IMO.

Now, onto my experiences with him... I've met him a dozen times, seen him just as many post dead. Each time he acts like a dirty old man staring at young girls' chests and on more than one instance having sexual relations with them in the back-room of dirty bars while sitting in as a guest for a local dead cover band and holding up the next set.

Truly sad.... But then again, The Tubes were a sexually provocative band so I am not surprised!

[settledowneasy91]

wow, thanks for the great posts kenny, sounds like ole uncle bobo really got screwed on this one

[settledowneasy91]

oops, i almost forgot why i posted on this topic in the first place.
I think donna sounds excellent on the music never stopped (studio-definatley not the live!) But her live performances are a totally different story. Her vocal jams in scarlet begonias and playin arent just uneccassary-there just down right bad. I hate to badmouth donna jean because deep down inside i think shes not a terrible vocalist, probably from all the garcia band work (though i do agree his later vocalists were better) and the music never stopped yada yada yada. I also cant say she ruins the shows for me cause i would rather listen to a show with bad donna jean than anything past 1980 any day of the week. But i do agree some of her solos can really take me out of a song.