Donnie BIOGRAPHY
When DONNIE walks into a room, you can't help but look at him. His eyes, so dark and strong, speak of a raw intelligence and determination to lift up every stone and turn round every corner to find the truth that is so dear to him. Donnie, 25, is set to ride the wave that his fellow neo-soul peers, India Arie, Macy Gray, Jill Scott, Maxwell, and The Roots have paved for him.
You may not know him yet, but get acquainted now, because Donnie will soon be a name on discerning lips everywhere. Hailing from Atlanta, Donnie comes from the same camp as fellow Neo-soul star INDIA ARIE. His music bears the same love as his idols and influences, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, his cousin Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughan and Bessie Smith.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Donnie was raised in a Hebrew Pentecostal church, which he regularly attended until his early 20's. At the age of eight, his family broke the Kentucky residence legacy and moved to Atlanta where his parents, both ministers, now practice at different chapels. Donnie credits the strict and yet liberal environment he grew up in for the direction he pursues today. It was Bishop Embry in Atlanta who first told Donnie to get into the choir. By the age of 14 he was already directing music and talks about the hub of musical ability that was developing around him. Contemporary gospel legends such as Twinkie Clark, Edwin and Walter Hawkins and Mahalia Jackson were taking music from the church to a new level. "They explored R&B, ragtime and jazz and put a meaningful message behind it," he explains.
