Country Joe McDonald: key obituary facts
Is Country Joe McDonald dead? Yes. Country Joe McDonald died on March 7, 2026, at age 84.
Cause of death: Country Joe McDonald's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Country Joe McDonald known for?
Country Joe McDonald was an American singer (Country Joe and the Fish) and songwriter ("I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag").
More about Country Joe McDonald
Born: January 1, 1942.
Genres: Alternative country, country, bluegrass, country rock, folk, psychedelic rock, acid rock.
Occupations: Singer, songwriter, musician, political activist.
Instruments: Vocals, acoustic guitar.
Years active: 1959–2026.
Country Joe McDonald, the American singer and songwriter best known as the lead singer and co-founder of Country Joe and the Fish and for writing “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag,” died on March 7, 2026.
Born Joseph Allen McDonald on January 1, 1942, in Washington, D.C., he was a musician and film composer who helped lead the 1960s psychedelic folk-rock group and wrote some of its best-known songs, including “Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine.” After the group broke up in 1971, he continued performing as a solo artist and carried on writing songs that reflected his political views.
Joseph Allen “Country Joe” McDonald (January 1, 1942 – March 7, 2026) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and film composer, who was the lead singer and co-founder of the 1960s psychedelic folk-rock group Country Joe and the Fish. He wrote some of the group’s most well-known songs, including “Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine” and “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag”, the latter a protest song against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.