Denise Donatelli (born c. 1950) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

singer.

Early life

Donatelli was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania around 1950. She began playing piano at the age of three and studied classical piano for 15 years, winning first place awards in the

National Federation of Music Clubs The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) is an American non-profit philanthropic music organization that promotes American music, performers, and composers. NFMC endeavors to strengthen quality music education by supporting "high standards o ...

' piano competitions three consecutive years. After college she set her musical career aside for marriage and family and did not begin singing professionally until her sons were in their teens.

Musical career

In Atlanta, Donatelli was encouraged to return to music after attending a jam session that attracted the region's top players, including guitarist Russell Malone. She sang several songs with Russell, and began getting calls for performances. When blues singer

Francine Reed Francine Reed (born July 11, 1947 in Pembroke Township, Illinois, United States) is an American blues singer, solo artist, and regular singing partner of Lyle Lovett since the 1980s and member of Lovett's Large Band. Reed has also recorded ...

joined Lyle Lovett's band, Donatelli joined the three-nights-a-week engagement at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Donatelli has toured and performed with Bill Cunliffe,

Bill Mays William Allen Mays (born February 5, 1944), known professionally as Bill Mays, is an American jazz pianist from Sacramento, California. Biography Mays came from a musical family and at the age of 15 became interested in jazz at an Earl Hines ...

Roger Kellaway Roger Kellaway (born November 1, 1939) is an American composer, arranger and jazz pianist. Life and career Kellaway was born in Waban, Massachusetts, United States. He is an alumnus of the New England Conservatory. Kellaway has composed commissi ...

, Tamir Hendelman, Larry Koonse,

Julian Lage Julian Lage ( ; born December 25, 1987) is an American guitarist and composer. Career A child prodigy, Lage was the subject of the 1996 short documentary film ''Jules at Eight''. At 12, he performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Three years later ...

Peter Sprague Peter Tripp Sprague (born October 11, 1955) is an American jazz guitarist, record producer, and audio engineer. He owns SpragueLand Studios and the label SBE Records. He invented a twin-neck guitar with one neck from a classical guitar and one ...

Bob Sheppard Robert Leo Sheppard (October 20, 1910 – July 11, 2010) was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (1951–2007), and ...

, Joe LaBarbera,

Marvin Smith Marvin "Smitty" Smith (born June 24, 1961) is an American jazz drummer and composer. Marvin Smith was born in Waukegan, Illinois, where his father, Marvin Sr., was a drummer. "Smitty" was exposed to music at a young age, receiving formal musica ...

, Christian Jacob's Big Band Theory, Alf Clausen and his Jazz Orchestra, and the

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

Alumni Band. In addition, she is heard on pianist Bill Cunliffe's Christmas album ''That Time of Year'' (2011).

Awards and honors

* 2011: ''When Lights Are Low'', nominated for

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works (songs or albums) in the vocal jazz ...

* 2012: Jazz Vocalist of the Year, Los Angeles Jazz Society * 2012: ''Soul Shadows'', nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album * 2016: ''Find a Heart'', nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album

Discography

* ''In the Company of Friends'' (Jazzed Media, 2007) * ''What Lies Within'' (Savant, 2008) * ''When Lights Are Low'' (Savant, 2010) * ''Soul Shadows'' (Savant, 2012) * ''

Find a Heart ''Find a Heart'' is an album by Denise Donatelli. It earned Donatelli a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Track listing # "Big Noise, New York" (Marcelle Clements, Donald Fagen) – 6:17 # "Love and Paris Rain" (Russell Ferrante. ...

'' (Savant, 2015) * ‘’

Whistling in The Dark Whistling without the use of an artificial whistle is achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips, usually after applying moisture (licking one's lips or placing water upon them) and then blowing or sucking air through the space. The a ...

’’ (Savant, 2021)

References

External links

Official websiteAll About Jazz
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Donatelli, Denise Living people American jazz singers American women jazz singers 1950s births 21st-century American women