Bio
Donnie is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and storyteller based in Atlanta, Georgia. Nourished and nurtured within the same Atlanta indie soul scene that produced India.Arie, Joi, Anthony David, and Avery Sunshine, Donnie quickly established himself as a vital new voice in contemporary soul. His debut LP, The Colored Section (Giant Step, 2001; re-released by Motown in 2002), was celebrated for its rich musicality and political consciousness, echoing the spirit of classic works like his cousin Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On? and Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life.
His follow-up album, The Daily News, deepened that commitment—offering bold reflections on love, identity, and the social issues of his time
A professional artist since the age of fifteen, Donnie began as a studio vocalist, recording at the legendary Curtis Mayfield Recording Studio in Atlanta and performing background vocals for gospel greats such as Tramaine Hawkins, Andraé Crouch, Shun Pace Rhodes, and Yolanda Adams. His early career took him across the globe, including performances at the Pre-Olympics Festival in Barcelona, Spain, and the Quincy Jones Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
As a solo artist, Donnie has opened for musical icons including Jody Watley, Ashford & Simpson, Al Green, Kem, and Boney James.
In addition to Donnie following in the legacy of great soul singers, he has an artistic and familial connection to jazz. Being also a relative of jazz legend Les McCann, Donnie proudly honors the jazz tradition within his lineage which is demonstrated in his lyrical phrasing, improvisational instincts, and reverence for music as both cultural witness and communal healing. It is this connection to jazz that makes Donnie both grateful and excited to perform at a festival where the greatest in jazz history are honored and celebrated.
Today, Donnie continues to expand his artistry, bringing the same storytelling gifts and social vision to a new medium, the theatrical stage, via his upcoming theatrical experience Born In The Colored Section: The American Mythology.
