A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Donna Slater embodies the same musical and cultural uniqueness as the riverfront city she once called home. Donna found the Gulf Coast while vacationing in Pensacola, Florida, during the early 1980’s. It was during this trip that her original music was discovered by Joe Gilchrist, owner of the world famous Flora-Bama Lounge. She soon found herself on the roster of regularly performing musicians at the Bama, and she decided to make the Alabama coastline her new home.
Donna performed at the first Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Music Festival, and she was instrumental in the development of this talent showcasing event. Slater now performs weekly at The Tropical Isle in New Orleans and at the Flora-Bama as the co-founder of Jezebel’s Chill’n, which is the renowned soulful house band at the Bama. She regularly performs at the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival, Mississippi Songwriters Festival, LA Songwriters Festival, Highway 80 Songwriters Festival, and the Last Honky Tonk Music Series. Donna is currently working on a new CD of original music, Heart Tattoos, which is being recorded at newly founded Juice Records in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“I write songs to both heal and open myself to others in ways that I usually cannot express in one on one conversations. I have drawn strength from so many talented musicians, and I hope that listeners can do the same through my songs.”