Hedge & Donna: Where are they? (2019 Obit: Donna)

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Eric
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 08:57 PM

Does anyone here know if a song called The Rising Sun (or that was the key line in it) was a H & D song? This isn't House of - it was a simple but memorable song from the mid 60s. I learned it back then but lost the memory of who did it somewhere along the years.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Nancy up north in Alaska
Date: 22 Nov 08 - 03:02 PM

Like others, I am wonderfully happy to find this thread and even see some recent notes in it. I first fell in love with Hedge and Donna's lyrics and voices and spirits in '69 or '70 when they performed outside on the grass at Cal State Long Beach. I was still in high school, but those words carried me through college and inspired, I believe, my social and anti-war activism.... Put my favorite album of theirs on a tape but then lent it to a friend who never returned it. My favorite song was "Becoming" ("Go on becoming...all becoming one....") How fun to hear others reminisce about the Golden Bear and Troubador. Throughout years have found that many of the musicians I have met played those places and the Ice House...and whether in CO, OR, WA, or AK...many of them knew each other and played together. Doc Don Schultz, Tom and Theresa Demarest (now no longer married), John Denver, Denny Brooks, and more. Just shows the importance of music. Peace.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,GUEST,Chickenbones
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 10:40 PM

Saw all their concerts at Golden Bear @ Surf City and Troubador in LA. Great to read others' love of this great folk/rock duo. Reading all the threads reminded me of their unbelievably great rendition of Jackson Browne's "From Silverlake". Took a gal to see them in 1970, we've been married since 1971. Their isn't a year that has gone by these past 37 that we don't speak fondly of our remembrance's of H&D.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Rhonda
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 05:55 PM

OMG, I can't believe I found this thread! I heard an LP of Hedge & Donna at a music store in Madison, WI in 1969 when I was a voice major there and just before I moved to Texas. I could hardly break myself away from it, but didn't have much time and figured I'd check it out when I got to Texas. But alas, no Hedge & Donna in Texas! By the time I got back to Madison, there were no LP's around of Hedge & Donna there either. But I have never forgotten the impact the voice had on me! And I always remembered the names Hedge & Donna, even though I am terrible at remembering names. I have looked many places, ebay searches at times, and google searches periodically. WOW! Now I can't wait to hear the sounds again!

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Liz
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 05:59 PM

Indeed...what a fun thread! I'm another Whittier grad, and was in the same class with them..1967. I met Hedge during our first week at school, and was knocked out by his version of "Just Departees." Donna was already known as a great singer, and had toured with, I believe, Stan Kenton. In a speech class where we had to sell something, Hedge blew everyone away when he put Donna on a block and "sold" her. In, I think, '69 they opened for Harry Belafonte at the Greek Theater...a great performance once Hedge finally got his guitar tuned....Harry glowingly introduced them, emphasizing that they were married, which was still radical at that time. A few years ago a client of mine (hypnotherapy) brought his name up as her past therapist in La Jolla...what a small world we live in. I did not get the impression it was trance therapy... more like group therapy.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Ann Foland in Oregon
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 07:21 PM

I have all of the LP's and am transferring them to CD's. I wish the quality was better. My LP's are okay and I even use a depopper program but I wish Capital would reissue the albums. Anyone know how to have that happen? My albums will be for sale after I copy them.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Duncan House Concerts
Date: 30 May 08 - 01:00 PM

Great thread!   I did a similiar post on a folk.org list about 8 years ago and ended up trading a few e-mails with Hedge's wife. I was hoping that either of them still played a little. I had a House Concert series near LAX then and would have loved to have hosted either Hedge or Donna. Note: We just moved to Ventura, CA, and are currently creating a new Ventura list to start a new folk series here. [e-mail]

I also saw H&D a few times at the Four Muses in San Clemente, and then saw there last show in LA. They were responsible for my love of the folk/singer-songwriter form of music that I'm still active in.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Discdon in East Sussex
Date: 29 May 08 - 03:55 PM

Hi,

I'm from England and was sent a free 33rpm ep by Rolling Stone way back. On it was a track by Hedge and Donna which I thought was GREAT. Never heard anything else and don't know if any albums were released in the UK.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Mary Connor - New Zealand
Date: 28 May 08 - 01:01 PM

We had the honor to share a taxi with Donna in mid-April 2008. She lives in Pasadena, CA. She got a degree in Psychology I think and has worked for about 20 or 30 years for the courts assessing the needs and solutions for kids in trouble of one kind or another. I probably have a bit of this wrong, but it was a gas to meet her and hear some of the stories of the old days. She's probably in the phone book!

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: bobad
Date: 17 May 08 - 04:34 PM

There are a few listed here on ebay.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Deborah S.
Date: 17 May 08 - 03:55 PM

I can't believe I found this thread...finally. I also google for them every so often. I also just bought the Audio Technica Turntable to go from LP to digital from Costco and probably only bought it because of Hedge & Donna. All my other LPs I've been able to find except for them. Unfortunately, I'm having hardware/software problems and can't yet digitize them. But I can hear them!! For the first time in so very long. I got the turntable hooked up to speakers and it is just wonderful. I have Hedge & Donna and -2. And thanks to this site, I downloaded All the Friendly Colors and Special Circumstances. I'd be glad to pay for CDs but they don't exist.

It is just so lovely to hear them again, and also to know that they aren't forgotten. That they have so many who remember them still. I'd love to get the rest of their albums if any know a way.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,SueG
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 01:34 AM

I saw Hedge and Donna every time they appeared at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. So long ago! They're voices were pure heaven, as were the words to their songs. I can still hear Donna sing "Four Women." What wonderful memories. I've lost track of my vinyls. Would love to hear their voices again.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Mark
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 01:55 PM

I was a fan of Hedge and Donna in the early 70's, and used to play and sing many of their songs with a female friend.

We used to see them regularly, once in an informal setting outside on one of the lawns at University of California at Irvine (UCI) in the OC (Orange County, Ca) probably 1970 or 1971.

Many on this thread have said there favorite song by them as Jamie, certainly my favorite as well. I've posted the lyrics, here's the link:

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hedge_donna/jamie.html

Enjoy.

- Mark

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 01:48 PM

I had the opportunity to work with Hedges as a consultant in 2005. Unfortunately this was a difficult time for him since his son (who he was very close to) had just died in a sporting accident. I have not spoken to Hedges since shortly after that incident.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,mulvaney
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 11:08 PM

I first heard Hedge and Donna on the Smothers Brothers, and was fortunate to hear them in concert and listen to their albums after that. The albums are long since gone, but I still remember bits and pieces from them. I have often wished that their music would be reissued -- I think I wore out the first couple of albums even before they disappeared. I had heard about Hedge, but am glad to read in this thread that Donna is doing well.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,2gr8gifts
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 11:02 PM

I did a search for Headge and Donna quite some time ago, but never found this thread. My sister and I saw them at The Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. Weren't they playing with Seals and Crofts? Or was that another visit? "Jamie" is the only one that has never left my head. I also remember a "Guava Jelly" song. I can't figure out all the downloads mentioned above. I would love to own their CD's. My turntable is in dire need of a needle and speakers. Somehow I just can't seem to part with it however. Please e-mail me if you have any suggestions. I too would like to do this in a ligit manner.

Thanks,
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: ratliffj
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 07:07 PM

Wow-- let me add to those who have said how wonderful it is to find this thread. And let me add my own H&D experience/connection:

My father was a psychology professor at Whittier College in the early/mid-60's and became aware of Donna's talent. I actually still have two reel-to-reel tapes of Donna and Steve Hennesey (on guitar) recorded in our living room, including a beautiful version of "who can I turn to" with just Donna singing. I believe this was intended as a demo tape. (This is also a neat personal recording for me-- listening closely I can hear our dog's collar jingling and the ice cream truck's tune playing from outside.)

I grew up listening to Hedge and Donna and even got a chance to vist backstage when I was 8 years old at the Troubador in LA (about the time the Special Circumstances album was released). I've introduced countless people to their music over the years and my own kids fell in love with 'Jamie' the same way I did. [My personal favorite song is 'Please Understand Me' ('yes your birds of stone are still resting in my hair / I do not mind')-- the song always brings tears to my eyes.]

I did an Internet search years ago to try and find either or both of them just to say "thank-you." This is the first time I've encountered a thread with posts by people who have been touched the same way. If those of you on the list who know either Hedges or Donna and are able to pass along this note, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,guest--dc
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 09:25 PM

Just found this. H&D helped me through a troubled year as a teen. I would love to find the first album on cd and I'd love it to be legal and pay royalties. does anyone know of a way to contact their label to request that?

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Sharon Fisher
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 02:52 AM

"Oh, I love you," said the sparrow to the tree. "I will always let you be what you would be." "In the autumn, in the spring, I will give you songs to sing."

This was a H&D lullaby that I sang to my children as they were growing up. There are more verses that I forgot... I lost my vinyl moving from Canada back to the States. I'm encouraged by this thread to FIND their wonderful songs again.

Thanks for everyone's sharing,
Sharon

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Chas
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 04:45 PM

Very interesting thread. Read a lot but not all. Stumbled across the thread because I am in the process of digitizing to mp3 three of their albums that I've had in storage for ever. (Special Circumstances, 2, and All The Friendly Colours) I may have a forth but haven't come across it yet.I use the internet to date the music so I can include that in my iTunes library.

The three albums still have the plastic wrappers on them and probably were only played once or twice way back when. I have a lot of LP's. Even if there's a snap or pop the software will clean it up Just finished doing Paul Siebel's Woodsmoke and Oranges (for those that can remember that far back).

Thanks for all the information. It sure is good music.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Rita Mcknight
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 05:10 PM

Please tell Where to get a copy of "Four women", and if Ican play a sample to friends?

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,LeeAnn
Date: 14 Jan 08 - 09:26 PM

Also interested in CD's of their work...particularly Special Circumstances.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: Sharmagne
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 08:02 AM

Susan,
I noticed a lot of sites which offer CDs made from the vinyl, but you have to buy the vinyl and then they make a CD copty of the "record" you bought.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Sharmagne
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 07:33 AM

Someone just sent me a MP3 of Sunshine!

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 05:42 PM

I went to the website but i don't understand how to download? There is no info there on how to do it..

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Sharmagne
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 05:19 PM

hippups I am interested!

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Beth
Date: 25 Dec 07 - 12:04 AM

It gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes to hear Hedge and Donna again (downloaded from links above.) After so many years without a turntable I'd forgotten how deeply their music has affected me.

Like many of you, for years I imagined that knowing about them was my precious secret, and I tried to share them with anyone who would listen. Then, sometime in the 90s my friend Mike mentioned how much he'd always loved H & D, too, and our relationship revealed a deeper layer we hadn't previously known about. I can't explain it, but that's what this music does.

Now I join the others in expressing my wish that these songs could be remastered for cd and the royalties could go where they should, to the artists.

To Sister - tell Donna I love her music beyond description -- and always will. There's something heavenly about it. Thanks a million!

:)

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 04:21 PM

LOVE Hedge and Donna! My fave duo of all time! I saw them more than once at the Folk Center in San Clemente, CA. No others like them.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Veronica
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 11:50 PM

HI...

I too have been a Hedge and Donna fan for years. I saw them 3 or 4 times in Los Angeles at the Troubadour. They were wonderful. She was so sweet and gentle and he was just loving and adorable.

I have all five albums - not in bad shape. However, I did just purchase a Audio-Technic turntable from Costco for $70.00. What is great about this...the turntable hooks up to your computer and you install the software for the tabletable on to your computer. It converts the music into MP3's and other files. Then one can transfer them into their Ipods.   This is the best solution that I could find to still hear their music until Capitol finally issues their music onto CD's if they ever do.   

It's great hearing all of their music...and how their music was so important to me and how it affected my life. I have often wonder where they are today as well and would check on the internet once a year to see if anyone has heard from them.

Great reading all of the above messages!!!

Veronica

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Caleb5412
Date: 10 Dec 07 - 11:30 PM

Wow...I saw Hedge and Donna at the Celler door in Washington DC. Fell in love with them and still have their vinyl. Great duo but as always it is ashame when good things have to come to an end.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 12:47 PM

I'd like to encourage all the guests who have found Mudcat (and who WILL find Mudcat) via a search for these great artists, to look around the site a little more fully and join us if you like what you find. In the same way Mudcat has made it feasible to extend H&D's legacy, there are many, many more treasures sprinkled through the place, and new ones added every day.

And you may be the next one to bring some other long-ago "great" back into people's ears and minds.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,ggrumpy
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 07:16 AM

I'm listening to Hedge and Donna on a LP I've had for a very long time. So I thought I'd look them on Google. I had Hodgkins disease back in 89 stage 4 (terminal). I spent a lot of time listening to music that I loved. Hedge and Donna was one I played constantly. I believe the music helped cure me, obviously I didn't die :-)To Donna's sister the next time you talk to her, please pass along my thanks for the music.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,jeanne_in_florida
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 04:52 PM

Hi Folks. Thank you all for the info. I went to http://playitagainmax.blogspot.com/2007/07/hedge-donna-all-friendly-colours-1969.html and downloaded the 2 albums. Then went to http://www.pewtersoftware.com/winunrar.html and got UnRar for a free trial (5 file limit) and now I'm listening to this beautiful music!

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,stick
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:33 PM

Used to see them at the troubador and golden bear. Can't think of anyone who could impress me more. Just hearing them now and then gives me goose bumps. Great blog by the way.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Guest- Natjo
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 01:16 AM

What a revolation to find this site! I first learned of Hedge @ Donna from an awesome performance they gave on the Smothers Brothers TV Show about 40 years ago.It remains in my memory as perhaps the most inspiring and passionate music video I have ever seen, and have been trying to find a video copy of that performance for years. I wrote reviews of their albums for my college paper in the early 70's, and have turned on a lot of people to their music over the years; but had never encountered another soul who heard of them except through me. Now, I am not alone anymore. Their music continues to stay with me wherever I go, and I have sung "Always and Endless" from the mountaintops of the Swiss Alps, to the deserts of California. If the highest virtue is to add goodness to life, they have certainly done that to mine.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Guest, richaard
Date: 21 Oct 07 - 04:19 AM

CD re-issues of H & D's albums would be the cat's pajamas!
I would like it to be nice and legal though, that is,...like
where the artists receive royalties and all.
   It's great to come across so many fans of Hedge and Donna.
CD's are a good thing. However, would there maybe be some video
out there in googleland? Perhaps a DVD release of extant
performance footage? ... (a nice dream).
   Artists release an energy into the world. Like ripples in
a pond, the energy expands, weaves, and blends into the fabric
of our being. It is clear to me that Hedge and Donna sang not
merely memorable and moving songs but they as well released
something of themselves into the world. It is because of that
"something" that we are all here harmonizing on this thread.
   I have never met either Hedge or Donna. I was not fortunate
enough to have seen them perform. However, just as you, I am
forever touched by them.
   A good thought for Hedge and for Donna...

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Kat
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:43 PM

Hedge & Donna were and remain my favorite all-time duo! I had the great joy of seeing/hearing them at The Folk Center in San Clemente, CA eons ago! Sad they broke up, but still love to play their music!

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 06:40 PM

GUEST,Sister - PM
Date: 10 Oct 07 - 06:29 PM

I am from the other side of the globe, and until I read this thread I had never heard of Hedge and Donna.

Obviously they were very special in the folk community in the US, do you think you could persuade your sister to come onto this thread and communicate with some of the people who were so moved by her music ?

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Tamina
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 06:00 PM

I saw Hedge and Donna regularly in the early 70's at the Troubador.
I have 4 of their albums, Hedge & Donna, Special Circumstances, All the Friendly Colors and Evolution, and would LOVE to have them on CD.
Jamie was my favorite song

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Sister
Date: 10 Oct 07 - 06:29 PM

Hey, Just accidentally found this website. I'm Donna's youngest sister. Just wanted to let you all know that Donna is alive and well. She lives and works in Los Angeles, and though singing is no longer her line of business it still remains a vital part of her soul. She remains a talented, lovely, dear person.
Her son has grown up well and is married with children of his own.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,TomH
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 02:26 PM

Great links! I'm a great fan of the first album, which seems to be the least known. It was mostly just acoutic guitar. Anybody have a line to that one? BTW they appeared at my high school circa 1969.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Michael in Portland
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 03:46 PM

RAR is a compressed (zipped) file format. I use 7-zip to unzip them into individual mp3 files.

You can find 7-zip here;
http://www.7-zip.org/

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 12:47 PM

The albums play fine as .RAR in KMP Player, BTW. Drag, drop, and watch KMP automatically load the audio player which displays album and track name.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 12:36 PM

The is a program called WinRar...but it is not free...

I think there is a free thing called UnRar...and maybe more than one that will do it.
here is one link I found: http://www.philipp-winterberg.de/software/rarzilla_free_unrar.php

You usually just point the program to the .001 file, and if there are others in the list...(.002, .003) it will find them automatically.

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 12:29 PM

Thanks.

Never saw that .RAR format before. How do I split it into individual MP3s?

~S~

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Michael in Portland
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 10:59 AM

Third is on a link from the same page as the other two - http://lix.in/c09da2 - from this site choose the free download, enter the free user code and click on download.

The albums are;
All the Friendly Colors
Revolution
Special Circumstances

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 09:46 PM

Amazing.

I got two of 'em OK but not sure how to get the third.

~S~

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Michael in Portland
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 07:17 PM

OK everybody - found 3 albums in mp3 format!

http://playitagainmax.blogspot.com/2007/07/hedge-donna-all-friendly-colours-1969.html

Back in the 70's when my brother decided to give away all his belongings to simply his life, he gave away a bunch of mine as well . . . including all my H&D vinyl. Never forgot and did occasional Google searches. Until today nothing had turned up.

But, as of today, I'm revisiting some very old familiar memories and music.

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Trish
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 06:32 PM

Didn't one of their kids die?

Subject: RE: Hedge and Donna - Where are they now ?
From: GUEST,Bill in Kansas
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 09:52 PM

Incredible read! A friend recorded them to cassette tape for me back in 1978 when we were living in Crete, Nebraska. I've lost most everything since, but I KNOW where that tape is! Time to listen to 4 Women again. When I had a cat named Peaches, I thought of that song constantly. The song about the young man (?) who couldn't keep living (?) still haunts me. I loved their harmonies.