Business Innovators Radio - DONNA SINGER: International Jazz Singer Shares Her Extraordinary Inspirational Journey

Episode Date: November 3, 2023

In this episode of Expert Profiles Today, Dr. Tamara Patzer interviews International Jazz Singer Donna Singer. With her captivating live performances and captivating recordings, Donna has left jazz lovers in awe around the world. Born and raised in the Bronx, Donna has been immersed in the world of jazz from a young age. Surrounded by a family of jazz enthusiasts, she grew up listening to legends like Nancy Wilson, Billy Strayhorn, Sammy Davis Jr., and Count Basie.Donna’s talents extend beyond singing. She is also a dedicated educator, sharing her gift with aspiring musicians through her own school of song. As a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, she mentors and trains students in piano and voice. Donna’s dedication to music has even led her to start her own record label, the Emerald Baby Recording Company LLC, which has contributed to her success as an independent artist.During the interview, Donna discusses her musical journey and the inspirations behind her original songs. She reflects on the performances that have left the biggest impact on her, including a memorable concert in Paris where she renewed her wedding vows. Donna also shares her experiences performing for the Center for Discovery, a center for disabled children and adults, and the joy she finds in connecting through music.Listeners who are jazz enthusiasts or appreciate powerful vocal performances will enjoy this episode. Donna’s unique blend of jazz and gospel, along with her storytelling approach, sets her apart as an artist. Her music carries messages of love, hope, and joy, encouraging listeners to choose joy in their own lives.To find out more about Donna Singer and her music, listeners can visit her website or find her on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. She is also active on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even TikTok. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience the talent and passion of Donna Singer.Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/donna-singer-international-jazz-singer-shares-her-extraordinary-inspirational-journey

Welcome to Business Innovators Radio, featuring industry influencers and trendsetters, sharing proven strategies to help you build a better life right now. Hi, everyone. This is Dr. Tammy Patzer, and this is a really exciting episode of expert profiles today because we have International Jazz Singer, Donna Singer, here with us today. and we're going to have a really fun conversation. But first, let me get started with the introduction. And you may know that Donna is a powerhouse performer, a jazz vocalist, and she's taken the world by storm with her incredible talent, from her stunning live performances at renowned festivals and concert halls to her captivating recordings.

Donna Singer has left jazz lovers in awe around the globe. She was born in the Bronx and raised in upstate New York, and Donna was immersed in the world of jazz from a very young age. She was surrounded by her family of jazz enthusiasts. She grew up listening to the likes of Nancy Wilson, Billy Strayhorn, Sammy Davis Jr., and Count Basie. This love for the music propelled her to become the incredible jazz vocalist she is today, captivating audiences in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Africa.

But Donna's talents don't stop at singing. She's also a passionate educator, sharing her gift with aspiring musicians through her own school of song. Donna's dedication to music has earned her a place in the National Guild of piano teachers, and she continues to mentor and train young and adult students in piano and voice. That's interesting, Donna. I don't remember telling me about that before. Oh, really? I'm happy to know that.

12 chart-topping recordings and international airplay, Donna Singer's voice. has become a staple on radio stations worldwide. And let's not forget her recent venture into creating her own record label, Amarled Baby Recording Company LLC, which has led to even greater success. Today we'll be diving more into Donna's musical journey, discussing her inspirations for her original songs and reflecting on the performances that have left the biggest impact on her. We'll also explore the unique and enjoyable stages that have shaped her career and delve into the secrets behind your high ranking on the Roots Music Report. And if that's not enough, we're going to give an exclusive glimpse into Donna's

2020 tour where she performed into some of the most breathtaking locations in the world. And we're going to find out about what aspirations and milestones she's striving for in 2024. So let's give Donna Sen. A warm welcome. Welcome. Hello. Hello. Good evening.

I'm so happy to be here, Dr. Tammy. Wow. Like I said, I did not remember. You're also a piano teacher. And whenever I think about music, I was one of those people who I really wanted to do music, but it was not in the cards. My family was, oh, we can't afford it. We had those little lute bones. When it came time when I wanted, oh, I want to play an instrument, oh, we can't afford it.

that became the issue. So I never got to do that. And then, of course, my singing voice, let's just say, I was told to be quiet often when I tried to sing. So I just never had that part of my talents to get an opportunity to develop. So I'm going to ask you a question. So tell me, Donna, where do you draw your inspiration for all of your original? songs? That's a great question. My inspiration comes to me through my husband, Roy Singer, who is a composer of all my original songs. I am not a writer. I am not a composer. My husband

writes the music and his partner, Mitchell Usher, do write the words. And they are award-winning team. They have done very well in their career. And they actually allow me to sing their songs, It's not the other way around. The songs, the inspiration. Usually I just, the inspiration comes to me as maybe I'll say, like we're doing a Christmas album right now. So obviously they're writing Christmas songs. But I'll say, I want a specific song about snow. And then next thing I know, one day later, I'll have a song about snow.

And boom, it's on the album. Wow, that's really interesting. So you get to be the brains of the outfit or you get inspired and then you have people who can make your audio vision come to life. That is just amazing. So throughout your career, you've sung in so many different venues around the world. Which performances have left you with some really meaningful impact? we performed in Paris and I'm going to say that was meaningful, kind of twofold. It was very meaningful just to be in that city, to perform in Paris was just wonderful.

It was in a very small setting. It was a small intimate gathering, and it was a great concert. And then afterwards, Roy, my husband and I went to the Eiffel Tower and we renewed our wedding boughs. So we could say what was the most impact? Yes, the concert was great is a wonderful impact. But having experiences even outside of the concert stage where we renewed our vows and I had a veil and we did the whole nine yards. He was in a little suit and we just renewed our vows in Paris.

Another stage that I actually started to cry before going on stage was at Carnegie Hall. The orchestra was playing, and me and the other singers, we had not entered the stage yet. And it was so meaningful that I was about ready to step on this stage. And you have to give respect and credit words due to all the performers before me. A tear came to my eye. And I was like, stop, you won't be able to sing. You won't be able to sing. But I was like, I was that emotional.

And Roy came to the rehearsals for Carnegie Hall. And we knew it was going to be a great concert. But it ended up just being more than I could ever imagine. And afterwards for the cast party, it was like, just that extension. I really love what I do. And I'm really blessed to be able to do the songs that I do at different locations in the world. So those two, I would say that were meaningful and had an impact on me. So thinking about that, are there any other performances or stages or venues that were really unique and enjoyable for you?

Yeah. I guess one more place. Well, I have to say New York. I love performing in New York. My last tour was a lot of fun. We performed for the Center for Discovery, which is disabled children, patients, and so. forth. And to perform a concert in front of these young adults, adults and children who are in wheelchairs or who can't talk and just come to life under that jazz music, it was phenomenal.

I left so inspired. I left like, that was great. They would come up on stage and dance with me. And I'd have no problem with that. I'm no problem with that at all. There were people always, the security was very, very good. But they were able to roam and do whatever they wanted to do at the Center for Discovery. And Roy was actually playing the piano and Kevin was playing the drums. And one started to kind of inch closer and closer just to watch their hands play the piano. You know, the students would just watch Roy playing the piano or watch Kevin hitting those drums. It was very inspiring.

I just, I loved it. And we actually filmed a commercial of that concert for the Center for Discovery. So it really, it was, I was honored to be a part. of that. Wow, that is so amazing because you're you're doing so many different things at so many levels. Tell me more about the Roots Music Report and how did you achieve such a high ranking with that? And what is it related to, demographics, sales, or something else? I love the Roots Music, Jazz Report is like to just help you understand a little better. Think of the Billboard charts.

The Billboard charts, your song comes out, you go number one on the billboard charts, and they're focused on money. How many albums did you sell? That's how you get on the Billboard charts. Well, with Roots music, it's an independent station of just independent artists. So let's put it this way. We're not going to see Saravan and Elephant Sherald on the Roots music charts because they're independent artists. Those are artists who were signed to a record label at that time.

I have my own record label, which makes me an independent artist with a record label. So then Roots would take my song, just to give you an example, I asked Roy and Mitch that I wanted to do a gospel song. I kept hearing one of the jazz songs they wrote for my last album as a gospel song. It just kept every time I sang the song, I felt like I wanted to rip out and be Mahalia Jackson. So I said to them, could we please turn this song into a gospel song? Instead of saying, we can make a stand, let's say, take God's hand. Because it was make a stand for all that you achieve in life, all that you wanted to make a stand for what you believe in. But I heard take God's hand, we can make a stand.

Together, we can achieve. So I asked them, would we, so they tweak the words. You're right, I have my own writing team. They tweaked the words and did exactly that. Roots Music Report caught a hold, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, contemporary Christian report, got a hold of it, and it was number one for nine weeks on the chart. It wasn't up against, I keep mentioning people who are dead. Michael Jackson, Prince, I don't keep meaning to mention that.

Beyonce, there, there you go. It wasn't up against them, but the independent music world. And that's what makes it so special because we have our voice. Roots music charts gives us a voice. We're not going to sell a million albums and get on Billboard Top 10 or Casey Kasem's, you know, top 100. I'm not going to sell that. But on the music chart, on the radio, my song was played. and I was number one.

So they give us a voice for independent artist. Okay. Wow, that's fantastic. I didn't know. Most of our listeners probably don't even have a concept of all of the levels of music. Because obviously, like you said, there's a handful of very, very famous people out there in the mainstream world. Right. World. But yet, there's so many other people out there who are successful, like you,

and who are at the top of their game. They're just in a different, like a little different world or section. That's it. They're over here. I'm over there. And that's okay. Our worlds do come together. Because with Roots, the songs have to be on NPR, college radio stations, NPR radio stations, And you hope to be crossed over to the FM dial. You never know. And Roots allows that to happen. Wow, that's interesting because as I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate the NPR stations more because of the fact they have some really

interesting storytelling, different things that you just can't get in other places. So 20203 has been a really, big touring year. Can you tell me more about it? What have you been doing? Well, it started out in Kansas for Roy's high school reunion. We decided to go to Kansas, and I called the All-Star Kansas Big Band and asked them, could we do something at the Bolus Performing Arts Center?

They said yes. Bolus said yes. And we ended up having almost a sold-out show for the, for the, for the, for, with the 18 piece. big band orchestra. Then we went to London. And I have to tell you, I would almost put this where you asked, Donna, what's one of your special performances? We performed. I did the jazz portion on the steps at the fountain in front of Buckingham Palace. And once again, I almost cried because it was just such a powerful location. You know, it's just like, wow, am I really singing here right now?

Some people think venues and inside venues are what's so important. And I've sung on some steps of some beautiful places. I think it's just all really great. Then we went to New York where I did the Center for Discovery. I also did a few jazz shows with my quartet. And now I have to admit, I'm very excited, Tammy. Next week or two weeks from now, we're going into the studio for my ninth album. a Christmas album with my trio.

So that's a nice way to end the holiday, the summer session. Wow. So I do have a question related. Back in the day, I used to get my vinyl albums. How many songs now are on an album when you create an album? Okay. Now, because I have a record label, which is Emerald Baby Recording Company, I am part of the recording academy, which are the people who give out the Grammys.

I'll give you their criteria. Their criteria is you must have at least 12 to 15 minutes minimum on an album. So if you put one song on an album, unless they specifically say one song. But for jazz, it's the entire album. So my particular albums tend to be eight to ten songs. I've seen Winton Marcellus come up with like 15 songs on one album. You know what I mean? Or he'll have maybe just five songs on an album and everybody's solo is very long.

So with your vinyl, I don't know back in the day what it used to be with vinyl. Ha ha, ha, like I don't know what that means. But for CDs, I know for me it has to be more than 12 to 15 minutes in order for it to be considered into Grammy contention. So the album that I'm putting in this year is dance band boogie. That's my big band album. And that is about 30 minutes long. So the songs are kind of short. The solos are kind of short. But I put that in for Best Big Ensemble, Large Ensemble Recording. Wow. Yeah. That's exciting. It is exciting. Learn something new.

So here we are. We're going into the fourth quarter of 2023. So what are you looking forward to in for 2024? Well, about a year ago or two years ago, I started the Joyful Journey Music Festival. And that's a festival where we bring different genres together and just share an evening of music. It's with the Diamond Jazz Orchestra,

my orchestra and me, and then I usually bring in two to three or four other performers. So we're looking forward to doing something this spring with the Diamond Jazz Orchestra. Also, I have been asked to go to Rome and I will be singing in Vatican Square,

city, Vatican City. So, yeah, I'm very excited about it. So what am I looking forward to? So far, I've got two gigs. I've got the Joyful Journey Music Festival and I've got Vatican City. If anybody wants to put me in there anywhere else, let me know. Wow.

When you think about it, I mean, every place that you've talked about are fantasy places for most performers. Carnegie Hall, the Vatican, the steps of Buckingham Palace. I'm blessed. I mean, when you think about just the places where you travel and perform, that's just phenomenal. So you've had multiple chart success, eight CDs, four singles. Now, if you're going to create a greatest hits, how do you choose those? It's funny. Roy's partner, Mitch, just asking me the same thing. Are we going to have a greatest hits album from you?

And I'm like, no, no, I'm not ready to do a greatest hits. But to pick up, like the Christmas album, they're all songs I love. Roy wrote five of them and then five are silver bells or Mary did you know, jingle bells. I pick my albums, not my originals because those are the guys and whatever they give me, we just hope I like. And Tammy, there have been times. They've written a song that I didn't like. I said, this one's not working for me or fix this.

That this isn't working for me. And then they'll nail it and give me something that I love. one of the songs meeting is take the day off. It hit number 20 on the charts. People were whistling it. It was a silly take the day off. We submitted it for Dr. Oz. When he did his series, Take the Day Off.

The inspiration, I would say, and the greatest hits would be for my next album with Christmas, is I have to love the songs. Tammy, if I don't love the songs, I'm not going to do it. I'm just not going to do it. and all of my albums, I stand by every one of them. They're all, I love when someone comes up to me from my first album and says, I love when you did Fatswall or Honeysuckle Rose. And I'm like, I recorded that.

I was like, well, that would be a good song to record. You did it already. Oh, okay, thank you. So how many albums have you done already? We've done eight albums, four singles. And I'm working on the ninth album comes out October 19th, which is called Beauty, along with the bass, which is just me and bass. So I'm very excited about that.

It's the essence, no piano, no drums, a couple of percussion here and there. And then my 10th album will be the Christmas album. Yeah. Wow. Wow. So how many years does that represent of you being a professional international jazz singer? Well, the thing is, when I was in Juilliard, Boy and I used to do shows throughout New York City.

I didn't start recording until 2010. In 2010, I would say that's when my recording career. No, no, no, 2008. It was when I really started recording. But I've been performing since I was young. I remember in the third grade, my teacher heard me humming the way we were, Barbara Streisand. and she asked me to sing it.

And I did. And I've been singing ever since since third grade. For my high school students, I did a senior solo. I've been singing a long time. Wow. It's funny. The way you said you're in the third grade, the way we were, I think I must have been about 18 when that came down.

So I'm a little bit older. So tell me more about the when you are creating, these different styles to create the different genres and how you incorporate the elements into your music to create something very unique. Tell me more about how that happens. I think that happened because my mother told me if I was going to be a singer, I have to create my own sound because I was starting to sound like Elefit Cheryl. I was starting to sound like Sarah Vaughn.

She goes, no, you have to sound like Don a singer. So one of the shows Roy and I did, a newspaper man came up to me. And he goes, you know, while you were singing, all I kept hearing was Amazing Grace. And I thought, oh, God, I blew it. What do you mean you kept hearing Amazing Grace? He goes, you sing with a touch of gospel that I don't know if you know you do it. And I'm like, pack up all my cares and whoa, here I can. go singing, oh.

And he goes, most people would like, pack up all my cares and woe. And you, you're all over that song, but it's with a gospel flavor. And it stuck. He put it in a newspaper. He said, you have to go see Donna Singer's show. She is a jazz singer with a touch of gospel.

And that, I think, is how I approach blending my style with, even when Roy, when he writes the songs, he says to me, okay, now Donna, go Dona size it. I'm like, go don't. Domicize it. Well, that makes sense.

Yeah, go dinosaur. Because I'm not going to sing, Mary had a little lamb, Mary had a little lamb. I'm going to donacize it. And it's stuck. And that's why I think I have a little, I offer a little more specialness

because that's how I sing. So I do jazz with a touch of, gospel with a touch of Donna and that's how I get my blend. That makes sense? Well, yeah, I was just listening to how good you made Mary had a little land. And you made it something. It was just like, yeah, you domicized it. Yeah.

And made it into something more than what was the song. Yeah. Know it as that that's really interesting about how. So you've been literally, you're international as artists. So it means that you're navigating this global meeting scene. And how do you connect with all of these people from different places in the world, different cultures? I have to tell you, Facebook and Instagram. When Facebook, when I opened up my page, I now have 4,000 people on my page.

And in Instagram, I have about 5,000. When we got to South Africa, the first thing I did was find Facebook, jazz vocalists in South Africa, and started posting my songs. Of course, I had to first see that I was in South Africa and see which, when you get a good publicist, and mine is carry on productions, carry sends me where my music is. played. That's how I know I am global. So when we were in Australia, Facebook, Instagram, Australia Jazz, and I started throwing my music on the on Facebook there too. YouTube, we have about a thousand followers. Same thing. Each of my songs, you'll see go to Facebook. I have 28 videos. And I and I tag people. And then we were supposed to go to Copenhagen three years ago and it got canceled because of COVID.

And I have friends that were waiting for me to come because I found them on Facebook. So you say, well, Donna, you have global music. You're right. But it didn't just happen. Facebook and Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, all of those things. If you go to my page, you'll see that they have things on them as of yesterday. Because I know to be global, I have to be out there. I have to be out there.

I don't know, Dr. Tammy, how many times did you see a show that I would be performing in on Facebook. Quite a few. And I share them. Oh, thanks. And I post them. So to get that global music scene, you have to be ready for social media, I think. Does that sound about right?

And hopefully. Yeah, it sounds because if you look at people, we are living in this global communication field, and you have to. talk to your audience and wherever they're at that they're going to be interested. So in all of your experiences, I'm sure you've worked with renowned jazz musicians. Can you tell me about any special experiences or any unique things that have happened in your adventures? I would say one of the most unique things while we were in Switzerland in the out.

it was sold out so they opened the windows so people could go on the mountain with their chairs and hear us. So we were inside, but they opened the doors and they opened the windows because people were trying to get in and they couldn't. And I just thought, this is remarkable. Music transcends. It transcends. And then the next day, my bass player, Hunter Isbel was his birthday. So we went up on the mountain picked a whole bunch of salad and things like that, and everything you want you could eat in this salad came from that mountain. And all of a sudden, I picked something up,

and I said to the producer, I said, oh, what's this? And she goes, oh, that's grass. Don't eat that. And I was like, what? Let's just say I didn't have any more of the salad. That's cute. So for Hunter's birthday, he got to eat this great, salad. And for me, don't eat that. I pick the grass. Oh, well.

So of all the jazz musicians that you've ever played with, can you explain who you think was the most interesting or the most talented or whatever the criteria of being in mind? I would say my two band directors, Melton Mustafa Jr., and and Carlos Panera, the talent that these guys can get a big band together and just whip it up and support me 110%. And they both play instruments. I believe they both play sacks. But for me, they're band directors. It was just an honor, an honor to share the stage with them. It really is. Their Melton is in, I think, Boka. Ritone and Carlos is in, I think Baca also. And so if I had to say working with any instruments,

also my trio, Rances Colon on bass, who we did Beauty along with the bass album with. He worked with Placito Domingo. He worked with Ricky Martin. The fact that he's my bass player is just absolutely amazing. And then my piano player, who is Brad Keller. Brad, he was the pianist for the Manhattan Transfer. It just, it blows my mind.

I love that I work with, these are my core. These are the people I keep close to me. And Aldafa Herrera has three Grammys, Latin Grammys. He's a phenomenal drummer. We're, like I said, at the end of, in two weeks, we're all getting together to make magic again and make another album. So if there's anybody, I wish I could say, who, Audrey McDonald is someone. I've never worked with her,

but I would be honored to share the stage with Audrey McDonald. And someone else said I also, Forrest Whitaker, he is a black actor that is just one of my favorite persons. So that's who I'd give you. That's cool. So since jazz is known for Improvertis. improvisation, sorry about that, and spontaneity. So how do you keep up the energy and the creativity flowing during your live performances

that there's so much, you know? You're right, yeah. And a lot of people, because we just had a great performance in New York, and people were just like, you haven't changed. I think what it is is I graduated from the prestigious New York Academy Theatrical Arts. And a lot of people don't realize, I said theatrical. That's acting. I love performing and acting.

And I love telling the story with my songs. If I'm going to share a song with you, I'm going to tell a story. And I think that keeps it fresh. It's not just, oh, I'm going to sing this song like you just said, Mary Had a Little, and find a way for another night to make it sound fresh and great. We also do Tina Turner's Proud Mary. And I'm like, as soon as I hear that beat, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum.

I'm on. I'm on because I'm channeling her, and I'm about ready to have a great performance. Another thing, I think, to keep the roots of jazz for me, I'm constantly, I know this may sound strange, but I listen to jazz. You know what I mean? I listen to rhythm and blues,

and I listen to 50s and beep-op, but I listen to jazz. I'll put on an album by Ella Fitzgerald and enjoy it as if it was the first time I'm hearing it. You know how you play music in your house? Well, my music I play is jazz and gospel. And those are the things I like to play. B.B. and C. C. Winen, gospel fame, I play them and I sing their songs. So how do I keep it fresh for my stage? I keep it fresh because I'm still listening to it.

new year. Like, oh, I really like that. I really like that. Oh, Roy, I found a new song for us. And he's like, you did that already. Well, we're going to do it again. Only we're going to do it this way. And it's going to be great. So for me, I keep, I keep roots alive. I go back to my roots and I listen to jazz. So you mentioned quite a few people just now. Are there any other musicians, past or present, that have really have significantly influenced you? Mahalia Jackson. I can't listen to her without crying

from the 60s. And I mean, I know this is like totally something you weren't expecting me to open this can of worms with, but Black Lives Matter. And I listen to her. for major inspiration. And we're doing Mary, did you know,

in our next Christmas album. And it's half because I love the way she sang it. You know, I'm just like, if there was one, one person, then Barack Obama. That would say those two influence me,

touch me every time. In fact, on my Facebook wall is a picture of him. I just, he touches me. He, because of, them, I have a me, and I don't take that for granted. And because of me, my son has a life now for him.

So maybe you were expecting me to say newer artists, but Mahalia Jackson and Barack Obama are my mainstay. And they're my inspiration. And I can't listen to an album without thinking of my mother and my father. And on Sunday morning playing Mahalia Jackson, you know, it just, Doesn't Barack Obama play an instrument too? Oh, he does? Oh, no, I didn't know that. I could swear that I saw it. I know Clinton played sax. We'll look that up.

We'll look that up. I'm not sure. But no, I didn't really have any expectations on who might talk about because you talked about so many different people. Yeah. And so I was just curious if there was, you know, one or two people that really have stood out. So here's a question. It's about balance.

And so there's the traditional roots of jazz. And then you also explore a lot of new sounds. So tell me a little bit about that balance of, keeping the traditions, but also that exploration. Sure, sure. You know, it's funny you should mention that because I was just asked that same question, really close to that same question.

I think the balance for me is I have my goal ahead of time. We're going to do on an album, five covers, which is a song that everybody knows and five original. That's usually my balance, four covers and four original. Now, for a show, I don't do very many originals. I don't. For a show, I stick with what I think the audience will like to hear. So I think now with the Diamond Jazz Orchestra, we have done quite a few original songs that we put together.

But for a trio or a quartet, and even I also sing with a hundred and a hundred piece concert band called the Boynton Beach, Gold Coast concert band. And I sing Great American Songwold. So I'm not saying know your audience because maybe somebody in the audience would like to hear take the day off. Who knows?

But I tend to... Really? Let's do it. But I tend to be a little more careful. So like this last show we did in Lake Worth, we did Prince Purple Rain. Then we did the Beatles Blackbird

and when we did Blackbird we segued into Bye-bye Blackbird So it was just like Blackbird singing in the dead of nine Take these vocal ring and learn to find So we did that And then we went Pack up all your cares and woo

And then we went into that So you say So it was a little different Yeah I could have done both songs as songs but I said, I think these two songs will go together. So Dr. Tammy, you want to know how we stays fresh? I stay on my toes. I'm a teacher.

I'm always learning. I teach students. They're always learning. I shouldn't become stagnant and just teach sing Proud Mary because, oh, we do it every show. No, we do it because people love it. And then we do when the saints go marching in because Louis Armstrong is behind me saying, go do that song. I'm going to do that song.

Tina Turner saying, go do that song. I'm going to do that song. So you say, Donna, it's challenging to get the pushing the boundaries and exploring new sounds. Yes, I have my new songs, but I respect the people who came before me, and I will do their songs as well. It makes sense that you're honoring what the audience expectations for different things. but at the same time, it opens the door so that you do have that opportunity. Yes, to play one or two songs. So then what else you have that's original, then they can grow on.

But I do know audience have expectations, and if you don't give them what they want, then they're either bored or they don't want it. It's like, well, this isn't what I expected. Right, right. And I also love when my audience goes, sing, sing Proud Mary. I'm like, we just did that. Sing it again. Okay.

We had that this summer. Somebody came up and requested it twice, the same person. I was like, okay. All right, what else? Sorry about that. No, that's okay. I'm very excited. Very happy to be.

You've been out there. You go on tour. you COVID happened. So you've had some challenges that you've faced. But what about this current

album or the last album that you recorded? Have you run into any issues or any challenges or what are some, maybe a fun behind the scenes story you might be able to share about No, it's not fun. It's not

fun. It's hard work. for beauty along with the base, we were so intense, it almost fell apart right in front of us. And do you want to know why? Because I didn't have my act together. I didn't. So, and I'm the first person to say, yep, it was me. So a fun fact, know your music. I'm sorry, if you're a vocalist and you're going in with a team of a trio that's top-notch like mine is or our. you better know your music. Sorry that wasn't a fun fact, but it almost fell apart right then and there because I didn't have my music. And let me tell you, that night Roy and I were up to like midnight learning the music.

Like here, you're singing this note wrong. Here, this segue goes like this. And I was like, oh, why did I think I could wing it? No. Respect your audience. Respect your musicians. Know your music. that's really good advice and you can apply that to a lot of other things in life too

I appreciate that because a lot of times we do we think we can just go in and wing it but you really can't so thinking about that but obviously you show up with 110 percent of you So what message or emotion do you hope to evoke to your listeners through your music? The biggest thing is my message is always love. It's always hope and believe. I don't sing on hatred. I don't sing out of anger or spite. I don't.

I sing out of love. So if I have a message for my audience, is that choose joy. If you have an opportunity to be angry, hurt, upset, happy, love, joy, pick joy. So I have to admit, even my chip jar says choose joy, Donna. That's my message. Love, hope, believe. I think with this Christmas album, we're very excited because two of the songs are not fluff. Two of the songs have a really good world peace message that I really hope people will say,

what's wrong with us? Let's choose joy. Let's choose love. You know, Tammy, I don't pretend to write music. I do not have that talent to write music, but I do know what. I like to sing. And I think I know what my audience likes to hear. So let's just choose joy. So if I have a message, it's choose joy. Choose joy. So Donna, people find you, find your music.

Where should you go to look? I'm on all streaming platforms. If you've heard of Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon music, all of my music are on streamed. If you go to YouTube, you'll hear every single song I've ever recorded. Because now YouTube very lovingly does a video of just the words. So, yeah, I didn't know that either. I was then I poked down like Honeycuckle Rose.

And there it was. And I was like, I didn't make a video on Honeycuckle Rose. And it's me singing, Honeysuckle Rose. YouTube does that. So they do a very good job. You can find me on Facebook, Dr. Donna Singer, Dr. Donna Singer 0-710. And you could find me on Instagram, LinkedIn. And actually, I'm really, I don't know that you're going to be like, oh, Donna, you didn't.

Not Reddit, but what's the newest one out? TikTok. Yes, I did a TikTok. Hey, TikTok is one of the most popular. ones and it probably and a lot of people are using it up and coming artists. Yes. I have found some great original artists with TikToks.

And you know, they'll play the music and you can you know, if you like it, you can share it. It's crazy. And I have, I put up 25 videos, 25 different, 10 different songs. And all I did was talk about something about each of the songs. I just had the music playing in back of me. And I just said, oh, and this is where we perform with da-da-da-da-da-da. And you can hear us like, da-da-da-da.

Thank you. 15 seconds of fame. And I think I have a thousand likes. Yeah. Well, a thousand can turn into. Amazing. If you turn into three, you never know. That's fabulous.

So before I let you go, is there anything else you'd like to add? I just want to say thank you to my family and to my son and my husband. This really is a group effort. This is not just Donna going out there and conquering the world. It's really the three of us and my twin sister Dawn, my older sister, Teresa, and her family. I mean, if you ever want to know who came to all of my first shows, it was my family. And I, I'm honored and thrilled that you, you're inviting me, Tammy. I'm really enjoying this, but I have to give credit to my family.

Well, thank you. So everyone, we've been speaking with international jazz performer, Donna Singer. The perfect name. I can't forget it. It's Donna S-I-N-G-E-R. It's the perfect name. So thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

Thank you. You have a great night. Thanks for listening to Business Innovators Radio. To hear all episodes featuring leading industry influencers and trendsetters, visit us online at businessinnovators radio.com today.