Country Joe McDonald, the singer and songwriter who became one of the most recognizable protest voices of the 1960s, has died at 84. A statement announcing his death said he passed away after a long career that left a lasting mark on folk and rock music.
McDonald rose to prominence as co-founder of Country Joe and the Fish, a band closely tied to the counterculture movement in San Francisco. The announcement of his death renewed attention on his role in shaping the sound and spirit of a generation defined by political unrest, anti-war activism, and rapid cultural change.
He was best known for I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag, a sharp and memorable Vietnam War protest song that became one of the defining tracks of its time. His performance at Woodstock helped cement his place in music history and introduced his work to an even wider audience.
Beyond that moment, McDonald continued writing, recording, and performing for decades. His career reflected a strong connection between music and social commentary, and his work remained closely associated with one of America’s most turbulent cultural periods.