LAMAMIMET

Joseph Allen "Country Joe" McDonald was born on January 1, 1942, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in El Monte, California. After serving three years in the U.S. Navy stationed in Japan, he moved to Berkeley in the early 1960s, where he became involved in the folk music scene and the Free Speech Movement.

In 1965 he co‑founded the psychedelic folk‑rock group Country Joe and the Fish, writing protest anthems such as "I‑Feel‑Like‑I’m‑Fixin’‑to‑Die Rag." The band gained national attention with performances at the Monterey Pop Festival, the original 1969 Woodstock Festival, and numerous Bay Area venues, becoming emblematic of the anti‑Vietnam War movement.

After the group disbanded in 1971, McDonald pursued a solo career, recorded over thirty albums, and continued to champion progressive causes through his music and public appearances. He remained an influential figure in the countercultural legacy until his death on March 7, 2026, at the age of 84.