The music world has lost another legend as country and folk singer Joe McDonald has died at the age of 84.
McDonald co-founded and was the lead singer for the band Country Joe and the Fish. Best Classic Bands was the first to break the news that the talented musician had died.
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Joe McDonald’s Cause of Death
While his official cause of death has not been confirmed, according to the outlet, McDonald died in Berkeley, California, after battling Parkinson’s disease for years. Best Classic Bands confirmed the news, shared by a source close to McDonald’s wife, Kathy.
TMZ has also confirmed the sad passing of McDonald, citing sources close to the singer.
McDonald leaves behind quite a legacy. The singer was a huge part of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene during the 1960s, performing with Country Joe and the Fish, which was founded in 1965 by McDonald and Barry “The Fish” Melton, hence the band’s name.
Country Joe and the Fish’s songs focused heavily on politics and social issues of that era. In fact, the group was best known for their politically charged song, anti-Vietnam War anthem “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag.”
Remembering Joe McDonald
The late singer will forever be remembered for his infamous Woodstock moment. McDonald played twice at the iconic festival—once as a solo act and once with the band.
However, it is McDonald’s solo performance that was ranked among the Top 15 performances at Woodstock decades later. During his final song, McDonald got the crowd riled up with his “Fish Cheer,” which normally spelled out the word Fish in honor of his band.
At Woodstock McDonald changed the cheer to say ““gimme an ‘F,’ gimme a ‘U,’ gimme a ‘C,’ gimme a ‘K’ What’s that spell?” “F**k!” The enthusiastic audience roared in response, and then McDonald led him in a sing-along of “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag”.
In 1970 Country Joe and the Fish broke up, leading McDonald to focus on his solo music career. Some of McDonald’s most popular solo songs include “Agent Orange,” “Save the Whales,” “Kiss My Ass,” and “Man From Athabaska.”
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The singer spent over 60 years in the music industry doing what he loved, with his last album, 50, released in 2017. McDonald is survived by his wife, Kathy, and four children. Devin and Tara from his marriage to Janice Taylor, and Emily and Ryan with Kathy.
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