An American musician best known for his tenure as keyboard player with the Grateful Dead between 1971 and 1979.

Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California with a father who was a professional pianist and singer. He trained in classical music at a young age, but spent his teen years performing at country clubs and in various bands. His earlier musical attempts tended to lean more toward jazz than rock music. While bumming around the California music scene in 1970, he met Donna Jean Thatcher and they married shortly afterward.

In late 1971, the Dead needed a new keyboard player. Pigpen was too frail (he had gone into hospital) and T.C. had left long ago. One day in October 1971, a young woman grabbed Garcia at a Keystone Korner show in San Francisco and introduced her husband. He had never studied the Dead and had gone to only a couple of shows, but she somehow knew that he was the new piano player. And after playing with Garcia and then the complete band it turned out to be so and soon after Donna was asked to join as well.

Godchaux was brilliant for the first 3 years or so he was in the band, but he was sensitive and prone to depression and was unhappy with touring. Eventually, he and Donna left the band in February 1979 and he was replaced by Brent Mydland. He and Donna then formed the Heart of Gold Band, which included Steve Kimock.

In 1972 and for much of his career, Godchaux played acoustic piano, but played the Fender Rhodes frequently in 1973 and 1974. He played jazz-influenced keyboards during his time with the Dead, spurring some of their most adventurous group improvisations.

He and Donna also issued the mostly self-written Keith and Donna album in 1975 with Garcia as a member of their band. In turn, they performed as part of the Jerry Garcia Band. Godchaux also appeared with the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Subsequently, he co-wrote songs with Lowell George (of Little Feat) and Robert Hunter.

Godchaux died in 1980 as the result of a car accident in Marin County.