Biography
World renowned Donna Singer is an electrifying and dazzling jazz show-stopper with her remarkable repertoire of jazz, swing, rhythm and blues. Her cool, sultry, vibrant and playful voice has wowed audiences in intimate café gatherings as well as theater and concert venues. Donna has a wholesome presence that is fun, energetic and simply memorable.
She is on hundreds of radio stations world wide, as well as internet stations Pandora, Live365 Radio, M3Radio.com, including Soundcloud, ReverbNationand CDBaby to name a few. Donna and The Doug Richards Trio are being presented on Europe Jazz Network. EJN is a Europe-wide association of producers, presenters and supporting organizations who specialize in creative music, contemporary jazz and improvised music created from a distinctly European perspective. Donna has a personal artists page on MTV.com/artists, and has been asked to start a page on Billboard.com.
She has Jazz Festivals under her belt, starting with The Latino Music Festival, The Newburgh Jazz 2012 Series and The Liberty Jazz Festival….and “This year’s singer is Donna Singer, backed by the Doug Richards Trio from her Kiss Me Beneath the Mistletoe CD.” Straight No Chase – A Jazz Show
…and the reviews are in for CD Release #1: Take The Day Off: Escape With Jazz
Radio ~ Jazz Charts:
#4 Top Jazz Adds issue #1242
#20 CMJ Jazz Chart issue #1247
#24 CMJ Jazz Chart issue #1248
#22 CMJ Jazz Chart issue #1246
“…can’t think of a better album title to describe this upbeat and happy-go-lucky jazz album by vocalist Donna Singer. Ms. Singer has one of those bright and breezy voices, nimble enough to glide over the music yet subtle enough to carry the emotional heft of the lyrics. I thought there was a touch of Lena Horne’s vocal style too, not a bad thing, I reckon.” ~John M. Peters, TheBorderland-UK
“Vocalist Donna Singer makes a tempting offer on her new CD, Take The Day Off: Escape With Jazz, featuring a handful of swing/blues blends and bossa nova numbers. Collaborating with her bass player Doug Richards, Donna Singer takes audiences on an escape that they’ll want to go on again and again.” ~Susan Frances, Yahoo!
“Donna Singer is a first call vocalist…with an effervescent spirit and impeccable phrasing there is certainly no lack of talent.”~Brent Black, @Critical Jazz
“It’s got so much heart and passion that it’s unstoppable. Not just for grandpa, anyone who digs some real playing at the kind of smoky joints that no longer exist will have a great time with this romp.” ~Chris Spector, Midwest Record
“Take The Day Off: An amazing Harlem performance by Donna & Doug…Donna Singer, aptly named, sang her heart out while Billy worked his magic on the keys and Doug and Mike kept up a jazzy groove. The performers are clearly professionals with a lot of experience and love for what they do. Their stage presence and musical consistency made the show a pleasant experience that jazz lovers shouldn’t miss.” ~Nicholas Gauthier,Examiner.com
“The idea of quitting for a day (or more) is most appealing, under any circumstance – but as I groove to Donna’s vocals on her totally hip rendition of “The More I See You”, accompanied by pianist Billy Alfred & bassist Doug Richards, the temptation is ever stronger to take that holiday (like, forever, folks… lol). I give Donna & Doug a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, particularly for listeners who have gotta’ have a toke of cool vocals each day. “EQ” (energy quotient) rating is 4.97.” ~Improvijazzation Nation Magazine
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…and the reviews are in for CD Release #2: Kiss Me Beneath The Mistletoe
Radio ~ Jazz Charts:
#1 Top Jazz Adds CMJ issue #1274
#5 Top Jazz Adds CMJ issue #1275
#5 Top Jazz Adds CMJ issue #1276
#23 CMJ Jazz Chart issue #1277
“A nice mix of originals and holiday favorites couples with a more soulful presentation than most artists have the chops to deliver allows “Kiss Me Beneath The Mistletoe” to take flight as a solid Christmas release for most anyone in the market for new music this season. A sure fire winner!” ~Brent Black,@Critical Jazz
“Easy going stuff made to look deceptively simple, Singer is asmart singer that knows how to move and groove with swing and verve delivering a Christmas record that really sounds like nothing you’ve heard before. There seems to be a wave of different and creative Christmas records in the pipeline this year but this set is running at the head of the pack. A good bet for the holidays.” ~Chris Spector, Midwest Record
“A coalescence of smooth jazz, gospel and sonic bliss, Kiss Me Beneath the Mistletoe is a lovely addition to the Holiday Songbook…Kiss Me Beneath the Mistletoe generates a feel good atmosphere with melodic tunage and harmonic forms that bond the songs to Singer’s vocals. A world renowned vocalist, Donna Singer has a voice that invites the listener to the party.” ~Susan Frances, Yahoo!
“If you are looking for a holiday treat that will warm your guests and lift your spirits for the season, do not miss the opportunity to add Kiss Me Beneath the Mistletoe to your holiday collection. Certainly a kiss worth having.” ~Constance Tucker, All About Vocals
“I just heard a really good holiday album by a jazz vocalist with the unique name of Donna Singer…The album closes with a fun and energetic rendition of ”Winter Wonderland”…Not only does Donna Singer have some great vocals, she has surrounded herself with terrific musicians and backing vocalists. This could have been just another average holiday album, but with the slate of original songs, Donna and company made this a very special offering.” ~BVS Reviews, Bruce VonStiers
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Just A 2012 Tiny Tour:
2012 was the year of touring for Donna Singer:
~Starting with the Latino Music Festival, the Newburgh Jazz 2012 Series, the Amphitheater in Vienna Virginia, the Liberty Jazz Festival and the Jazz Segment at the Otisville Country Fair.
~In New York City they performed on Charlie Parker Way in the East Village for a concert at the University of the Streets Jazz Theatre. Donna then moved to mid-town to Somethin’ Jazz on 52nd Street and going further uptown to 96th Street and Symphony Spot (Thalia’s Cafe in the corner of Symphony Space. Donna moved way up to Harlem at the World Famous Shrine on Adam Clayton Powell Blvd and one of the hottest restaurants in Harlem, Billie’s Black Gourmet Restaurant.
~Brooklyn here we come at Freddy’s Bar and then crossing the Hudson River to perform in Newark, NJ at Moore’s Lounge for mama’s fried fish an’ jazz night. She also performed at Sister’s of Soul Restaurant in Linden, NJ.
~Donna is also the lead singer in the Swing Shift Orchestra (SSO), a seventeen-piece big band delivering the upbeat tunes including Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, and Duke Ellington. SSO has performed on radio, television and numerous jazz series.
Past Performances:
~Previously she opened for Grammy winner Jimmy Sturr at the Times Herald Record 4th of July Spectacular and sang with Gospel Dove Award winner Alvin Slaughter. She headlined the gospel segment at the Catskill Mountain Festival of Music and Art, captivating audiences through a national public broadcast of her performance.
~Donna also performed in Phoenix, New Orleans, Washington DC, Delaware and West Palm Beach, FL.
2013 Upcoming Performances:
~United Way of Sullivan County 30th Anniversary Celebration, Bernie’s, Rock Hill, NY
~Saratoga Arts Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY
~The Catskill Club – A 1920′s Speakeasy Themed Black Tie Fundraiser, Monticello, NY
~Newburgh Brewing Company Live Music Event, Newburgh, NY
~Music In Our Schools, Ellenville, Sullivan West, Eldred and South Fallsburg Jazz
In Tune With Donna:
Throughout her twenty years of wowing audiences, Donna has surrounded herself with equally renowned performing artists. As she belts out the tunes, members of The Doug Richards Trio provide the lively rhythm and soul: bassist Doug Richards, a long-time fixture in the international jazz community for over 40 years, played with Erskine Hawkins and Junior Wallace; keyboardist Billy Alfred, a famed Catskill musical director for 26 years at The Pines Hotel in South Fallsburg, NY, who performed twice on the Sammy Davis Jr. television show and drummer Mike Cervone, has been a rock and jazz performer for many decades. He worked with members of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame group The Rascals and with pop sensation Gavin Degraw.
Donna’s Professional EPK:
Take The Day Off: Escape With Jazz