Donald Joseph Klang (born January 23, 1985), better known as Donnie Klang, is an American singer, songwriter, producer and model. He won Making the Band 4 and was awarded his own solo contract by Diddy. He released his debut album, Just a Rolling Stone in late 2008.
[edit] Life and career
Klang was born in Brooklyn, New York.[1] He began modeling as a baby and doing television and film work from a young age, getting minor roles on NYPD Blue to The Nanny.[2] He was in jazz band and band in middle school, later attending chorus in high school.[3] He was part of pop groups in St. Dominic High School and Island Trees High School, namely Playa Deception and INT. The latter which released an independent record called Hip-Pop.[2] He attended Hofstra University briefly on a scholarship studying music management and business and minoring in music.[2][3][4] Klang decided to take a semester off of college to pursue a music career with his group.[3]
Klang had been in INT for nine years before it broke up because their parents wanted them to go back to school as the band was going nowhere.[4] He auditioned for American Idol twice but never got past the first round.[2] These events led to him being apprehensive of pursuing music further.[5] Not long after returning to Hofstra and working at a warehouse, the chance came for Making the Band 4 and he again took time off from college in 2007.[6][4] A friend had entered his MySpace account into an audition which he later attended at the encouragement of his family and friends.[5] He was awarded his own solo contract by Diddy instead of a spot in the group. Klang released his debut album, Just a Rolling Stone, in late 2008 which peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard 200. He later opened for Janet Jackson in the fall.[2]
Klang split with Bad Boy Records in mid-2010, signing with independent label Eight72 Entertainment.[7] He began working on his second album at the same time.[8] He later started his own record label, Donnie Klang Entertainment and released his first single "Falling 4U" in 2011. He also released a mixtape on Valentine's day.[9] "X-Miss" was also released as a single for Christmas in 2011.
[edit] Artistry
Klang has listed Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Usher, The Fray, One Republic, Justin Timberlake, Brian McKnight, Michael Jackson and James Brown as musical influences.[10][11] He co-wrote most of Just a Rolling Stone.[11]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
[edit] Singles
| Year |
Single |
Album |
| 2008 |
"Take You There" (featuring Diddy) |
Just a Rolling Stone |
[edit] Music videos
| Year |
Song |
Director |
| 2008 |
"Take You There" |
Ray Kay[13] |
| 2009 |
"Prisoner Of Love" |
Littles |
| 2011 |
"Falling 4U" |
Michael Dispenza[14] |
| "X-Miss" |
Kraze[15] |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Donnie Klang
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Klang, Donnie |
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| Short description |
American singer |
| Date of birth |
January 23, 1985 |
| Place of birth |
Brooklyn, New York City, New York |
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