Roberta Donnay

Roberta Donnay (born August 10, 1966, Washington, D.C.) is an American jazz singer.[1][2] jazz vocalist, composer, and band leader produced by Orrin Keepnews.[3] Donnay grew up in Washington, D.C. and learned to sing from the radio.[3] She is a practicing Buddhist.[3]

Roberta Donnay
Born (1966-08-10) August 10, 1966
Washington, D.C., U.S.
GenresJazz, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, composer, producer
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1982–present
LabelsMotéma, Rainforest
Associated actsDan Hicks and His Hot Licks
Websiterobertadonnay.com

Career

She began singing professionally at 16, wandering Europe with a knapsack and borrowing guitars on-site.[4] Moving to San Francisco, she sang with Dick Oxtot's Golden Age Jazz Band, followed by Tom Keats and His Tom Kats. She then studied Latin jazz, vocal jazz, and guitar from various teachers.[4] Her first album, Catch the Wave, was the first indie CD released in the San Francisco Bay area.[4] Jazz being her first love, she was influenced at an early age by Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bessie Smith. Donnay returned to singing jazz full-time in 2005. As a singer and songwriter, Donnay toured the U.S. with her guitar and appeared on various shows. In 1999, she signed a publishing deal with Heavy Hitters Music and began writing songs for film and television.

She has appeared with Ernestine Anderson, Booker T. Jones, Junior Brown, Tommy Castro, Peter Coyote, David Grisman, Bob Dorough, Woody Harrelson, Dan Hicks, Johnny Lange, Huey Lewis, Eddie Money, Maria Muldaur, Joe Sample, Lenny Williams, Mitch Woods, and Neil Young.[1]

Her voice and songs have been featured on The Unit, Nash Bridges, Numbers, PAN AM, The Young and the Restless, One Life to Live, All My Children, and That's Life.[1] Donnay's song, "One World," became a theme for the United Nations 50th Anniversary, and is being performed on 5 continents as a world peace anthem.[1] It was also chosen as the theme for World AIDS Day in South Africa in 2003.[4]

Discography
  • Catch the Wave (Heartfeather Music/Rainforest, 1989)
  • Soul Reverse (Rainforest, 1998)
  • Bohemian (Rainforest, 2001)
  • Back Before the Why (Rainforest, 2005)
  • What's Your Story (Rainforest, 2006)
  • A Little Sugar (Motéma, 2012)
  • Bathtub Gin (Motéma, 2015)
  • My Heart Belongs to Satchmo (Blujazz, 2018)

As guest

With Dan Hicks

  • Tangled Tales (Surfdog, 2009)
  • Crazy for Christmas (Surfdog, 2009)
  • Live at Davies Hall (Surfdog, 2012)
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References
  1. "Roberta Donnay". 142throckmortontheatre.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  2. All About Jazz. "Grammy Nominated Roberta Donnay, Releases Her New CD on June 7th". Allaboutjazz.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  3. "Roberta Donnay". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  4. "Roberta Donnay". Roberta Donnay. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
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