When he picks up the saxophone, the melodies that follow come straight from the heart, and there is no mistaking the distinct sound of Donald Hayes. A native of Memphis, TN, Donald is a musician, arranger, orchestrator, artist, and feature film/television composer. His music has taken him all over the world, but he has never strayed from his gospel and blues music roots. His approach to music is simple: to make soulful music that inspires people to dance, love, connect, and just feel good about life.
Donald has been blessed and very fortunate to be one of the most sought-a[er musicians and arrangers in the country, and he has worked with some of the biggest artists in the world including: Beyoncé, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Janelle Monae, Yolanda Adams, Earth, Wind and Fire, Robin Thicke, Fred Hammond, Queen Latifah, The Temptations, CeeLo Green, Marcus Miller, Marvin Sapp, Joonie, John P. Kee, Jessica Simpson, Justin Timberlake, Detrick Haddon, Black Eye Peas, James Brown, The Whispers, Eric Benét, Rev. James Moore, Jamie Foxx, Dave Hollister, Tank, Kirk Franklin, Goapele, Faith Evans, Kurt Carr, Wayman Tisdale, Chaka Kahn, Beverly Crawford, Dorinda Clark Cole, Philip Bailey, CeCe Winans, Raphael Saadiq, Maya Rudolph, and Stevie Wonder.
After working behind so many talented artists, the past two years recording and touring mostly with Robin Thicke including being featured on Thicke’s new single “Morning Sun”, Donald has stepped from the background, recording his first solo project aptly titled, Front Ground, with the first single “Riverside Drive” which hit the airways in January. Donald’s music is an extension of his life and who he is as a person. This philosophy, in addition to the music itself has earned Donald fans from all over the world, and he looks forward to sharing this project with them.