Dorothy Donegan facts for kids

Dorothy Donegan (born April 6, 1922 – died May 19, 1998) was an American jazz pianist and singer. She was best known for playing in the stride piano and boogie-woogie styles. She also played bebop, swing jazz, and classical music.

Early Life and Education

Dorothy Donegan was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She started learning to play the piano in 1928. Her first piano teacher was Alfred N. Simms, who also taught another famous pianist, Cleo Brown.

She went to DuSable High School in Chicago. There, she studied with Walter Dyett, a very important music teacher. Many other famous musicians, like Dinah Washington and Johnny Griffin, also learned from him. Dorothy also studied music at the Chicago Musical College and the University of Southern California.

Music Career

Dorothy Donegan playing for American sailors at Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, in 1943.

Dorothy Donegan became well-known for her performances in Chicago nightclubs. In 1942, she released her first recordings.

She appeared in a movie called Sensations of 1945. In the movie, she performed with other stars like Cab Calloway. A very famous jazz pianist named Art Tatum was her mentor. He even said she was "the only woman who can make me practice."

In 1943, Dorothy Donegan made history. She became the first African American to perform at Chicago's Orchestra Hall. This was a very important moment. She later talked about this special concert. She said that in the first part, she played classical music by composers like Rachmaninoff and Grieg. Then, in the second part, she switched to playing jazz. A newspaper reviewer praised her amazing piano skills.

In 1983, Dorothy Donegan performed at a special event. It was a memorial service for another jazz legend, Earl Hines. She played alongside other great musicians like Billy Taylor and Art Blakey.

Her first few albums were not very famous. But in the 1980s, her music started to get more attention in the jazz world. Her performance at the 1987 Montreux Jazz Festival was especially popular. Her live albums from 1991 also received great reviews. Even so, she was still most famous for her exciting live shows. She attracted big crowds with her mix of different music styles and her lively personality.

Dorothy Donegan often spoke out about the challenges she faced. She believed that being a woman in music, along with her demand for equal pay as male musicians, limited her career opportunities. In 1992, she received an "American Jazz Master" award. This award is given by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1994, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Roosevelt University.

Later Life

Dorothy Donegan passed away from cancer in 1998. She was 76 years old. She died in Los Angeles, California.

Discography

As leader

Filmography

• 1944: Sensations of 1945 – musical performer
• 1980: North Sea Jazz Classics 1980 – live performance recording
• 1995: Jazz at Newport '95 – featured performer in a concert for PBS
• 2008: Dorothy Donegan: Pandemonium

See also

In Spanish: Dorothy Donegan para niños