Home Page
To Contact Donna, e-mail:
myspace.com/donnaherula
Influences:
Robert Nighthawk
Son House
Johnny Winter
Robert Johnson
Bonnie Raitt
Muddy Waters
Bob Brozman
BB King
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Fred McDowell
Furry Lewis
Tampa Red
Ma Rainey
Bessie Smith
Memphis Minnie
Etta Baker
Sippie Wallace
Big Bill Broonzy
Neal Schon
Eric Clapton
Harvey Reid
Roy Rogers Slide Zone
Donna Herula is a Chicago born singer and guitarist who plays traditional classic, country and Delta blues. She plays fingerstyle as well as blues slide guitar on her resonator guitars including a 1930’s National Steel Triolian and National Steel Tricone (see pictures above).
In her solo acoustic performances, Donna plays the songs of the early blues women, including Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie, who had once achieved great commercial success in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Songs include “Good Old Wagon,” “I Got to Make a Change,” and “Daddy Goodbye Blues.”
In addition, she plays the music of other early blues musicians such as Robert Johnson, Robert Nighthawk, Furry Lewis, Blind Blake, Muddy Waters and more recent blues artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan. Songs include, “If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day,” “Police Dog Blues,” “Can’t Be Satisfied” and “Pride and Joy.”
Donna recently performed a tribute to slide guitar legend Robert Nighthawk for his Centennial Celebration at the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival and as part of a Robert Nighthawk symposium at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, AR. Songs included, “Crying Won’t Help You,” “Friar’s Point” and “Every Day and Night.”
Donna has played at a number of blues festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (formally the King Biscuit Blues Festival), Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, MN and the Mother’s Best Music Festival in Helena, Arkansas through the Delta Cultural Center.
She was also on the longest running blues radio show, King Biscuit Time, with host Sonny Payne, as well as on Delta Sounds with hosts Terry Buckalew and Sonny Payne both on KFFA radio in Helena.
See below for information on past performances.
Venues Played:
Blues and Music Festivals
Chicago Blues Festival
Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
Bayfront Blues Festival (Duluth, MN)
Mother’s Best Music Festival (Helena, Arkansas)
Robert Nighthawk Symposium (Helena, Arkansas)
Glenwood Avenue Art Festival (Chicago)
Cuneo Gardens Art Festival (Vernon Hills)
Deerfield Festival of Fine Arts
Northbrook Art in the Park Festival
Highwood Fine Art Festival
Coffeehouses, Restaurants & Wineries
Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse (Madison, WI)
The Common Cup (Rogers Park, Chicago)
The Buzz Cafe (Oak Park)
The Heartland Cafe (Rogers Park, Chicago)
C.J. Arthur’s (Wilmette)
Potbelly Sandwich Works (Gurnee)
Ace’s On First Martini Bar (Duluth, MN)
The Vine Martini and Wine Bar (Grayslake)
Mocha European Cafe & Wine Cellar (Highwood - now closed)
Schools, Benefits & Special Events
Hersey High School (Arlington Heights)
College of Lake County’s Women’s Center (Grayslake)
College of Lake County Performing Arts Center (Grayslake)
Blackthorn Grill (Benefit for American Cancer Society)
Highland Park Country Club (Benefit for Juvenile Cancer)
The Tonic Room, Chicago (Fundraiser for the Illinois
Association for Marriage and Family Therapy)
The Brickyard Grill, Westmont (Green Party Fundraiser)
Central Lake YMCA (Vernon Hills)
Bars
Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall (Memphis, TN)
Duke’s Bar (Rogers Park, Chicago)
Red Line Tap (Rogers Park, Chicago)
Bill’s Blues Bar (Evanston)
The Horseshoe (Chicago)
Dragon’s Dome Sports and Events Complex (Pekin, IL)
Fitger’s Brewhouse (Duluth, MN)
The Pavioion After Dar (Northbrook, IL)
Toby’s Tavern (North Chicago)
Peanuts Bar & Grill (Naperville)
Other
Farmer’s Market (Grayslake)
Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival -- Street Performer
Chicago Blues Festival -- Street Performer
Westmoreland Country Club
House Parties
Contact Information
To be added to her mailing list, e-mail: belladonnablues@yahoo.com. For more information, view “Video Clips” and listen to “Music Clips” on this Web site or go to: www.myspace.com/donnaherula.
Photo by: Phil Goldman
