Donal Donnelly was born on the North Antrim Coast in Portrush , Northern Ireland , he did not start to play the saxophone until after he left the Royal Navy at the age of 26.
In 1992 , Donal moved to Leeds to take up a place at Leeds College of Music on the Graduate Diploma in Jazz and Pop music, studing saxophone with
Phil Chapman and Al Wood
Since graduating in 1995, Donals career has been wide and varied, ranging from entertaining at dances and weddings to playing in big bands, back up for major recording artists and touring with theatre productions.
Multi-instrumental, he plays, flute, clarinet, piano and soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones.
He has toured with the theatre production Rave On under the direction of lproducer John Redgrave , and featured Jeff Turton of the Rockin Berries, who recorded two number one UK hits , and Terry Webster , star of Jive Bunny, Who Do You Do and the Rockin Berries .Both singers went on to form The Berries Connection that toured UK theatres. Donal was the featured saxophonist.
As a sideman he has worked with Roy Wood (Rock Legend , Wizard , and too much to mention )John Shepard and Fred White from the Grammy nominated band Acoustic Alchemy ,
Tim Woodcock/Tim Daniels song writer /producer ( Blue , Steps , Billy Piper ) James Russel saxophonist composer/producer (Jason Donavan ) Richard Blanchard , arranger/band leader ( Peter Grant , Joe Longthorne , band leader The Cat Pack ),
The Rat Pack Trio (www.ratpack.biz) The Squadronaires , and many , many more .
Donal is currently working with The Cat Pack (www.thecatpack.co.uk) one of the Uks leading Rhythm and Blues Orchestras , who so far have supported Chuck Berry and Little Richard , Donal played first tenor sax . Donal is busy running his own studio Enfused Records writing , arranging and producing his own album “ Heartfelt ” due for release in 2008 , . Donal has also played on a variety of recordings see website www.dondonnelly.co.uk and click on discography for details.
In 2005 Donal was the featured saxophone tutor in the BBC s “ Honey we are killing the kids documentary .
He also teaches at Leeds College of Music , and conducts various ensembles , from big bands to sax septets around the Yorkshire area .
Donal is also a busy composer/ arranger , and you can find details from his website www.dondonnelly.co.uk ,
HEARTFELT the album , is my attempt at producing and mixing my own project , and I have to say its been a hell of a journey . It started out after hearing how much it would cost to produce at local studios and realising that these skills could be of some use in years to come , I decided to invest in a Apple Mac computer , Logic Pro production software and some plug ins ,and after lots of advice from my good friend Ed Collins , off I went . Since then its been the most enjoyable experience , and has made me realize what an art production , mixing and mastering really is .
I know what I have produced is a far cry from being number one , but its a start , and like the instruments I play I shall continue to develop my production skills to help me keep my ideas flowing and get them out as soon as possible .
I would like to thank James Russel for all his advice and all the lessons in between gigs , Darren Glover for taking time from his gardening to play bass on my tracks .
Michael Hassin for the opportunity to play when I was really rubbish , and telling me I was ok , it kept me going and I probably would not be here enjoying it without him , thanks also to Anthony Toner ,Wee Doc and my great friend Bobby Spears for all the amazing jams we had at Rouges , and finally to my beautiful girlfriend Helena and our little baby boy Erin Joe Donnelly .
for more info visit www.dondonnelly.co.uk
TO LISTEN TO SAMPLE TRACKS GO TO
www.myspace.com/dondonnelly
All saxes keyboards and programming Donal Donnelly
Bass Darren Glover
Produced by Donal Donnelly
Mixed and Mastered by Donal Donnelly
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