but the songs live on forever

November 2025

Classic Rock Jam Band Rock Singer

Died On This Date (November 2, 2025) Donna Jean Godchaux / Former Vocalist For The Grateful Dead

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Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay
April 2, 1947 – November 2, 2025

Photo credit: Matt Tillett via wikimedia

Donna Jean Godchaux, the soulful singer who brought a distinctly Southern warmth to the Grateful Dead’s most exploratory era, has died at 78. She passed away on November 2 in Nashville after a battle with cancer, surrounded by family.

Born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Godchaux’s musical roots ran deep. Before joining the Dead in 1972, she was already part of the Muscle Shoals Sound as a backing vocalist on hits by Elvis Presley, Percy Sledge, Cher, and Boz Scaggs. That background gave her a sense of groove and precision that would later blend with the Dead’s wild improvisation, helping bridge their freeform jams with gospel-inspired soul.

Alongside her husband, keyboardist Keith Godchaux, Donna Jean became a fixture of the band’s most experimental and emotionally rich period, appearing on Wake of the Flood, Blues for Allah, and Terrapin Station. Her harmonies on songs like “Scarlet Begonias” and “Playing in the Band” added a human touch to the band’s cosmic swirl. Onstage, she brought both fire and vulnerability, matching the band’s unpredictable energy with her own fearless presence.

After leaving the Grateful Dead in 1979, she continued performing with Heart of Gold Band, various Dead offshoots, and most recently with Donna Jean Godchaux Band featuring Jeff Mattson.

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Country Musician Singer Southern Rock

Died On This Date (November 2, 2025) John Wesley Ryles / Celebrated Country Singer

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John Wesley Ryles
December 5, 1955 – November 2, 2025

Country music lost a steady and familiar voice with the passing of John Wesley Ryles on November 2 at the age of 74. A singer whose career bridged front-line hits and countless behind-the-scenes harmonies, Ryles was part of the fabric of Nashville for more than five decades.

Born in Bastrop, Louisiana, and raised in Texas, Ryles made his first mark in 1968 when, at just 17, he scored a Top 10 country hit with “Kay.” The song, a tender ballad of love and loss, introduced a warm, distinctive voice that felt both classic and new. Through the 1970s and 1980s, he released a string of singles that made him a familiar name on the charts, including “Once in a Lifetime Thing,” “Tell It Like It Is,” and “Nobody Knows.”

When the spotlight faded, Ryles found his true calling in the studio. For decades, his voice could be heard supporting some of country’s biggest stars. He became one of Nashville’s most respected harmony vocalists, known for his pitch-perfect phrasing and ability to blend effortlessly with any singer. His background vocals appeared on records by George Strait, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and Reba McEntire.

Hip Hop Musician Rap Singer

Died On This Date (November 1, 2025) Young Bleed / Southern Hip-Hop Pioneer

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Glenn “Young Bleed” Clifton Jr.
June 6, 1974 – November 1, 2025

Photo Credit: ThaUndaDogg via WikiMedia

Baton Rouge rapper Young Bleed, born Glenn Clifton Jr., has died at 51 after suffering a brain aneurysm following a recent performance in Las Vegas. A commanding voice from Louisiana’s gritty undercurrent, he was among the first artists to push Baton Rouge rap into the national spotlight during the late ’90s, helping define the sound and swagger of Southern hip-hop’s golden era.

Bleed first broke through with “How Ya Do Dat,” his hypnotic, streetwise collaboration with Master P that became a regional anthem and later a nationwide hit. That success led to his 1998 debut My Balls & My Word on No Limit Records and Priority, a gold-certified album that reached the top of the R&B charts and captured the hunger, hustle, and heart of a young artist on the rise. His measured drawl, lyrical realism, and knack for storytelling set him apart from the bombast that surrounded No Limit’s empire, earning him respect from fans and peers alike.

After leaving the label, Bleed forged his own path through a string of independent releases, including My Own, Rise Thru da Ranks from Earner Tugh Capo, and Preserved for Strange Music’s Strange Lane imprint. He later launched his own Trap Door Entertainment, remaining active long after the spotlight faded, driven by the same purpose that fueled him from the start: turning local truth into lasting art.

Folk Musician

Died On This Date (November 1, 2025) Archie Fisher / Scottish Folk Singer and BBC Presenter

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Archie Fishter
October 23, 1939 – November 1, 2025

Photo Credit: Cindy Funk via Wikemedia

Archie Fisher, one of Scotland’s most revered voices in folk music, has died at 86. Born in Glasgow on October 23, 1939, Fisher grew up in a family steeped in song. His mother was a Gaelic speaker from the Outer Hebrides, and his father’s love of opera and traditional ballads filled the house. It was an upbringing that shaped the poet and storyteller he became, grounding his music in the land and language of his people.

Fisher first came to prominence in the late 1950s, when the folk revival began to take root. By the time he released his self-titled debut in 1968, his warm baritone and intricate guitar work had already set him apart. Over the decades that followed, he became a touchstone for authenticity, weaving ancient themes with contemporary insight. Albums like Will Ye Gang, Love? and The Man With A Rhyme revealed a songwriter who balanced grace and grit, never overstating the emotion but always letting it resonate.

His songwriting left a mark that extended far beyond Scotland. “Witch of the West-Mer-Lands,” perhaps his best-known composition, was covered by numerous artists and remains a fixture in the folk canon. As a collaborator, Fisher lent his voice, guitar, and arranging skills to Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, among others, helping shape the sound of modern Celtic folk with quiet precision.

For nearly three decades, Fisher hosted the beloved BBC Radio Scotland program Travelling Folk, offering a platform for both emerging and established musicians. His interviews were unhurried and informed, reflecting his lifelong belief that the heart of folk music lies in its people and their stories.

In 2006, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to traditional Scottish music. It was an honor he accepted with the same humility that marked his career.

Fisher continued recording and performing well into his later years. His 2015 album A Silent Song was both reflective and alive, a collection that reminded listeners that his artistry never faded. He lived quietly in the south of Scotland, still writing, still listening, and still tending to the music that had defined his life.

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