“At age 48, my mother decided to pursue a life-long dream to become a jazz singer. A few years later, she recorded her only CD entitled, ‘Never Too Late.’ She believed it was ‘never too late’ to follow one’s heart. As I sail into this new season of my life, her words move and motivate me each time I step onto a stage.” -Donna Woodall
Donna Woodall grew up with family sing-alongs, church choirs, movie musicals, and a lifetime supply of albums from her parent’s vast and diverse music collection. Her earliest influences were greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand, and Johnny Mathis, along with Elton John, Billy Joel, The Beatles, and Stevie Wonder. She attributes her specific love of jazz music to her grandfather, who encouraged a young Donna to “sit and listen” to swinging divas, and to her mother, Jeanne Woodall, who performed in Milwaukee jazz circles, leaving behind a legacy of song after her passing in 2011.
Donna Woodall began her Milwaukee music career singing with top local groups, The Eddie Butts Band and Streetlife (former house band of the Milwaukee Bucks). She quickly discovered her own voice and style, forming the Donna Woodall Group. With her unique mix of jazz/blues and pop originals and covers, Donna Woodall blurs musical genres and presents lush, intimate vocals with every performance. She has established herself as a skilled singer, bandleader, and songwriter in the Milwaukee music scene. In 2023, Donna Woodall was voted WAMIs (Wisconsin Area Music Industry’s) FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR. She was also a WAMI nominee/finalist for Jazz Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year. Masterful delivery and a captivating stage performance set Donna apart from the rest.
Donna artfully blends the musical styles of artists such as Carole King, Cassandra Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Sting, Marvin Gaye, and Tracy Chapman with elements of traditional jazz and blues. The result? A fresh, new twist on familiar pop songs. Audiences are delighted by her eclectic song selections, cool originals, creative renditions of classic hits and jazz standards, and her bold moves into different music genres- all the while staying grounded in her jazz roots.
Donna's writing talents first emerged on her self-produced album, "The Subject Love.” This labor of love let her flex her songwriting muscle, showcasing original material that ranges from what she affectionately calls “soulful folk" to fun "jazzy-pop." Currently, she is penning new tunes that highlight her unique musical sound and perspective.
A newly-retired English teacher, Trekkie, dog-lover, and interpreter of song residing in Milwaukee, WI, Donna feels most at home in a comfy sweater listening to her favorite artists on an old-school record player, and singing her heart out. “If pop songwriter Carole King and jazz singer Cassandra Wilson had a baby, they'd produce me," Donna says. For over 20+ years, she has been on a wonderful musical journey performing with her husband, bassist Ethan Bender.
Performing at several of Milwaukee's most prestigious events, festivals, and venues- Jazz in the Park, Summerfest, River Rhythms, Tosafest, Lakefront Festival of the Arts, Bay View Jazz Fest, Zoo a la Carte, Middleton Jazz Fest, Madison Jazz Fest, Chill On The Hill, Plymouth Jazz & Blues Crawl, The Sharon Lynn Wilson Center, The Stoughton Opera House, Cedarburg Cultural Arts Center, Shank Hall, Skyline Music Series, Sessions@McPike Park, etc.- Donna has gathered a dedicated following.
Twice Donna has taken the stage with the Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra, presenting a crowd-pleasing, heart-touching Valentine's Day Show and a Winter Holiday Show. She was also a three-time guest performer at Milwaukee Downtown's Holiday Lights Festival Kickoff Extravaganza, which was broadcast on WISN Channel 12.
In 2022-23, Donna was a featured artist at Tosafest, Lakeside at MAM (Milwaukee Art Museum), Madison’s Dig Jazz Series, Madison's Jazz on State, MOWA Art & Chalk Fest, Zoo a la Carte, Menomonee Falls Sunset Series, WMV Fridays at Silverspot Cinema, Schuster's Farm Blooms and Butterflies, Havenwoods Summer Sounds, Bayshore Art Festival, Burlington Jamboree, Alverno Music Forum, New Berlin City Center Concert Series, Milwaukee Downtown's Heartbeats of the City Series at Red Arrow Park, WMV Music Spotlight Series at Mayfair Collective, etc.
Currently, Donna will continue to share her gift as she performs with her stellar band in regular rotation at notable venues in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin- The St. Kate Arts Hotel, Blu/Pfister, Caroline’s Jazz Club, StoryHill Firehouse, and The Cheel/Baaree.
One day, she hopes her goal of bringing joy through music to audiences near and far will come true. In the words of her mother, It’s never too late.
Looking to book Donna for your public event or private function? Donna and her versatile band, The Donna Woodall Group, have performed everything from two-hour energetic cover sets, low key, easy-listening dinner/lounge sets, tribute sets, as well as all-original sets. These days, Donna is working to shift more toward all original music with some covers in the DWG repertoire. Come hear her new songs!
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