Donna De Lory

DONNA DE LORY – Riding a Spiritual River from Pop’s Mainstream

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“Playing music is my yoga – It’s my bliss. When I play, I get lost in the music, my mind stops, I am in the moment and I am free. This is a place I never want to leave.” – Donna de Lory

The Artist:

Donna De Lory’s musical road has taken many paths, but she has always been drawn to a spiritual center. She was raised in a musical home in Calabasas, CA. Her mother was a singer and dancer and her father, Al De Lory, played keyboards with Phil Spector’s Wrecking Crew. As a child and teenager, Donna sang for commercials, films and for major artists like Barry Manilow and Santana. At sixteen, she spent time on Music Row in Nashville, learning the craft of songwriting, and returned to Los Angeles to continue dancing, singing and acting. This well-rounded training paid off when Donna began working with Pat Leonard, Madonna’s producer. De Lory soon landed a central role working with Madonna, as one of her on-stage singing/dancing companions, joining her for six international tours over 20 years.

Eager to explore her own music and identity, she released her self-titled debut on MCA in 1993. She scored a #1 single in Japan with “Praying For Love” and a Top 10 dance hit in the U.S. with “Just a Dream.” For her next album, De Lory wanted to write and play music that not only celebrated her pop experience, but her spiritual focus and fascination with world music. The resulting album “Bliss,” was an exotic, lush hybrid of sounds that De Lory felt inspired to perform in healing centers and yoga studios. Despite her new music’s niche appeal, it also found mainstream success, encouraging Donna to continue making heartfelt music on her own terms. She has recorded four more albums of “world music-meets-kirtan” to date, including her latest project, “Sanctuary,” and appears at this summer’s Lilith Fair with Sarah McLachlan.

The Song:

Bathe in These Waters – Donna de Lory

“Donna is a very special artist – clearly talented and experienced in a way that could leave her disconnected and jaded, yet she is full of grace, gratitude and humility. Her music…her yoga…her life…are all clearly intertwined and connected to the divine essence of her very being. When Donna and I talked about what to do together for the Yoga Revolution album, I was immediately drawn to this beautiful song by fellow kirtan artist David Newman. I wanted to do a new version for the record, and we both agreed on the song and the new direction. Working together was a true pleasure and has led to a friendship and enhanced respect for this inspiring torch bearer of the light made possible through highly accessible music fused with divine intention.” – Frank Fitzpatrick

www.donnadelory.com