Biography
Composer/pianist Donna Banks grew up in Miami within a nurturing musical environment. Because her mother was her piano teacher, it afforded her the opportunity to begin piano and perform at an early age of three. Donna studied classical piano until seventh grade where she made a slight departure and started experimenting with pop-rock styles. This later lead to, the now teenager, attending a jazz summer clinic at University of Miami which ultimately made a huge impact and helped to shape her musical direction forever.
Donna received a scholarship to Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. There she studied classical piano while playing in various bands and always keeping a desire to play jazz in the back of her mind and heart. After a year of college, Donna ended up marrying her best friend and soul mate, guitarist Ronnie Banks. The two headed off to University of Miami to live that dream of studying and playing jazz.
The next 15 years were filled with playing jazz clubs, solo piano jobs, and endless cover bands and experience to boot. She honed her improv skills blending jazz and classical music by playing solo piano hotel jobs where she could endlessly experiment. Within this time period Donna had an unbelievable opportunity and an ominous task of opening for jazz legend Buddy Rich and his big band in Atlanta. She opened as a solo artist playing piano and singing, certainly living her dream in that moment!
The next ten years came with a heavy heartache and a sudden setback to the now 42 year old. Donna had been writing music tirelessly and focusing on her piano when she had an adverse reaction to drugs while being treated for asthmatic bronchitis. This event triggered a rare bone disease called avascular necrosis. This disease had a devastating effect that caused the pianist to withdraw musically. She stated, "I had nothing to say. It tore a hole in the very fabric of my being."
After many years of health struggles with not only herself but her husband as well, Donna and Ronnie came through it all with renewed spirits and established a private teaching studio called Banks Creek Music.
Finally, after all these years, Donna released her first album, Natural Instinct (2010). The tracks on Natural Instinct are a blend of classical, jazz, new age, ambient electronic, heartache, joy, despair and hope which all become a coalescence of her life! The story is all there if you are willing to read between the notes.
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