Swing, Blues & Vintage Jazz
Preservationist singer/songwriter, keyboards, melodica, studio vocalist.
Swing, Blues & Vintage Jazz
Preservationist singer/songwriter, keyboards, melodica, studio vocalist.
Preservationist singer/songwriter, keyboards, melodica, studio vocalist.
Preservationist singer/songwriter, keyboards, melodica, studio vocalist.
With 150+ jazz shows under her knickers,
Donna Kay presents fun, laughs & great tunes-whether Carousing,
crooning with BellaDonna or jamming at her monthly jazz sessions.
Dec 14 ~ Closing out 2022's 6th St. Sessions
Academy Center of the Arts www.academycenter.org
Dec 17 ~ Amherst Glebe Arts Response 7:00p
Donna Kay began singing jazz in 2010, starting at a weekly jazz jam in Greenville, SC. Wanting to duplicate this enriching, life-changing experience, she began utilizing space at The Academy Center of the Arts in her new city of Lynchburg, Virginia. Show announcements are found at: www.academycenter.org
Donna Kay hauled the caravan to central Virginia in 2021. There, she met Laurabella Owens, a well known jazz and blues pianist, singer and composer. The two teamed up for private shows and decided to make their combo official. They include original songs by Kay arranged for piano.
From the CD Possessed. Available on Amazon, ITunes and all streaming platforms.
From the CD Possessed. Available on Amazon, ITunes and all streaming platforms.
Western swing was a big part of the vintage jazz era and The Carousers celebrate the genre with an EP of tunes inspired by Donna's Virginia heritage.
Many jazz tunes are just a chorus, a mere shadow of their former selves. Donna Kay explores these tunes in their original forms with "The Lost Introductions Donna Kay Loves" video series. Digging through the archives of all that is available to us today, Kay brings these tunes back to the future for everyone to learn about and enjoy! Check out this "double lost" version of At Last.
The brand new single with music by Monty Craig and lyrics/melody by Donna Kay! Something fresh for 2021.
All originals with one surprise derivative of a Stephane Grappelli song, Minor Swing. A Carousing Birthday is the highlight of this release, viewed on You Tube for thousands of birthdays! Available on Amazon.com and all streaming platforms.
Our Western Swing CD has had the most plays, with 35k-plus streams of Devil Water, the title track, which Donna wrote in homage to her home state of Virginia. Available on Amazon.com and all streaming platforms.
The Carousers pride themselves on knowing how to Carouse! Always professional, our "adults only" show features more colorful language, stories and antics. Shows range from trios to a full, 6-piece band.
The Carousers play festivals, weddings and cultural events like: Fall for Greenville, Artisphere, NOMA Square, and the TD Auditorium, all in Greenville, SC as well as historic Hagood Mill in Pickens, SC.
The Carousers are best known for playing swing dances like GVLX7, GVLX8, Prohibition Charleston, and for private dance groups. We will get your feet moving, always mindful of the tempo and song length requested by the client.
Born: Donna Kay Smith, in Lynchburg, VA
Cities: Lynchburg, VA (current); Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Naples, FL; Charlottesville, VA; Austin, TX; Atlanta, GA.
FOUNDER / CREATIVE FORCE with Donna Kay & The Carousers
COLLABORATOR under the pseudonym VITAMIN KAY
BIG BAND VOCALIST with Spartanburg Jazz Ensemble
CO-CREATOR, Vibe Vox, with Daniel Z
Liar's Club, King-Kill/33, The Hookers, ATLANTA projects
Angel Cafe, PRAGUE. With Alex's Hand in BERLIN. Fall for Greenville / Artisphere / TD Amphitheatre / The Velo Fellow / 13 Stripes Brewery / Smiley's Acoustic Cafe / Quest Brewing / Hagood Mill Foundation / Greenville Chorale Gala (Greenville SC). Chapman Cultural Center / Jazz on the Square / SXSE (Spartanburg SC). Jack O the Wood / New Belgium Brewing / Oskar Blues Brewing (Asheville NC). Prohibition Charleston / Commonhouse Aleworks / Smoke N Brew (Charleston, SC)
Drop a line to book me for any recording or live project: donnakayandthecarousers@gmail.com
KEEP CAROUSING IN THE CAROUSING 20s!