Donna DeLoryDonna De Lory is a singer and songwriter whose voice and lyrics transcend time and genre. Part of a musical family, De Lory has been performing since a very young age. Her voice can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Ray Parker, Jr., Kim Carnes, Santana, and Madonna, the latter with whom De Lory accompanied on every single concert since the "Who's that Girl" tour in the late 1980s. De Lory’s latest venture is The Lover & The Beloved, a Sanskrit & English CD released on Ajna Music, a record label emerging as a leader in the metro-spiritual music genre. While a collection of ancient Indian mantras set to modern beats may seem like a departure, for De Lory, this seamless blend of east and west, devotion and pop, is just the next bold step in her continuing musical evolution. “In English, I write about relationships, but when I sing in Sanskrit it’s more about spirit and what is beyond words,” she explains. “It’s great to not have to follow a certain form, like you do in pop. There are no rules for this type of music.” After traveling the globe in support of her self-titled MCA debut, Donna's pop and world influences took root in her collaboration with cellist, Cameron Stone. Together they formed a beautiful musical hybrid and began creating albums such as Bliss and In the Glow. De Lory was surprised to find fans of her new sound in unusual places, including yoga centers. “It felt really free,” she said. “When you play in a space like that, the people are so into the music. They want to be taken away. They're closing their eyes. They’re letting go and really listening.” These performances, coupled with De Lory's burgeoning yoga practice, led her further in the direction of devotional music. Soon she found herself adding Sanskrit chants to her songs and performance repertoire, hence, the inception of The Lover & The Beloved. “Playing music helps me get away from my personality and my mind and allows me to just be,” said De Lory. “I realize that being able to do this is a gift. If I can inspire people or help with their healing, if I can help them appreciate the people they love more or get in touch with their own bliss, then I’ve done what I’m here to do.” Donna is the daughter of Beach Boys backup musician Al DeLory. Donna DeLory is destined for fame. Best known as a background singer and dancer for Madonna, DeLory has continued to make her presence felt as a soloist and a member of Bliss, the duo that she shares with cellist Cameron Stone. Her second solo single, 'Just A Dream", written by Madonna who sang harmony vocals, became a top ten dance hit. According to "Billboard", "DeLory's waifish vocal presence is an absolute delight and she breathes immeasureable depth into lyrics that read like romantic poems and heartfelt confessionals". DeLory was born to sing. Her great-grandfather was a professor of music and violinist and singer. Her grandfather played upright bass and cello for the Warner Brothers Studio Orchestra. Her mother was a singer and dancer. Her father, Al DeLory, played keyboards on recording sessions for Phil Spector and the Beach Boys and produced albums by Glen Campbell and The Lettermen. Her brother, Alan, is a screenwriter and poet. At the age of eight, DeLory sang on children's albums for the Walt Disney Studios and was heard on the tune, "It's A Small World", featured on a ride at Disneyland and Disney World. She also sang on commercials for McDonald's, Mattel and Eastman Kodak. Although she moved with her father and brother to Nashville, at the age of fifteen, following the death of her mother from breast cancer, she returned to southern California to pursue a career in music. While she helped to form a band, The Danny Peck Collective, DeLory's greatest break came when Madonna's manager, Pat Leonard, heard her demo tape of her song, "Open Your Heart", and hired her to sing and dance on Madonna's Who's That Girl tour in 1987. She subsequently appeared on Madonna's Blind Ambition tour in 1990 and Who's That Girl tour in 1996. She appeared in Madonna's film, "Truth Or Dare", filnmed during the Blonde Ambition tour. DeLory toured as a background vocalist for Belinda Carlisle, Julian Lennon, Carly Simon, Carole King, Kim Carnes and Ra Parker, Jr. in 1988. DeLory's self-titled debut solo album, released in 1993, led to comparisons with Kate Bush and Tori Amos. The following year, she formed a band, Bliss, with cellist Cameron Stone. The duo's first album, "Love Never Dies", was released on their own label, Dirty Bird, and initially sold only at their concerts. Re-issued by the Secret Road label, the album was renamed "Bliss" (2000) and credited solely to DeLory. DeLory has sung on the sioundtracks of such films as "The Exocist", "Rocky", "Nothing In Common" and "A League Of Their Own". She was featured on the title track of the film, "Three Men And A Little Lady". — Craig Harris. |