Donnie Klang

Donnie Klang
Birth name Donald Joseph Klang
Born (1985-01-23) January 23, 1985
Brooklyn, New York City, New York
Genres Pop, R&B,
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, model, record producer
Years active 2007–present
Labels Bad Boy, Eight72 Entertainment, Donnie Klang Entertainment, Twenty Two Recordings
Associated acts Danity Kane, Aubrey O'Day, Day 26

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.

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 a 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 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 opportunity came for Making the Band 4 and he again took time off from college in 2007.[6][4] An acquaintance had entered his MySpace account into an audition which he later attended at the encouragement of his family.[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.

Artistry

Klang has listed Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Usher, The Fray, OneRepublic, Justin Timberlake, Brian McKnight, Michael Jackson and James Brown as musical influences.[10][11] He co-wrote most of Just a Rolling Stone.[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[12]
2008 Just a Rolling Stone 19

Singles

Year Single Album
2008 "Take You There" (featuring Diddy) Just a Rolling Stone

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]

References

  1. ↑ Collar, Matt. "Biography: Donnie Klang". All Media Guide. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 La Gorce, Tammy (2008-09-21). "From Levittown, a New Voice Emerges". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 "Levittowner Competes on MTV's Making the Band 4". Antonnews.com. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  4. 1 2 3 "AMPED UP | The Re-Making of Donnie Klang « Full Blast Magazine". Fullblastmagazine.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  5. 1 2 "Interview with Making the Band 4's Donnie Klang « Crushable". Crushable.com. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  6. ↑ Gamboa, Glenn. "Donnie Klang gets a push from Diddy < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  7. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957862/billboard-bits-big-boi-lollapalooza-donnie-klang-daniel-lanois-and-more
  8. ↑ Date: 05/24/10. "Bad Boy 'No More,' Donnie Klang Readies New Album". Singersroom.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  9. ↑ http://www.datpiff.com/Donnie-Klang-Valentines-Day-Mixtape.199186.html
  10. ↑ "Donnie Klang - Interviews - Entertainment". ALLOY.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  11. 1 2 Date: 09/01/08 (2008-10-07). "Donnie Klang: One Man Band". Singersroom.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  12. ↑ "( Donnie Klang > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )". allmusic. 1985-01-23. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  13. ↑ "Music Video News: SHOT: Donnie Klang f/ Diddy - Ray Kay, director". Video Static. 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhrwonuTAUY
  15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arrVbmdj7iU&feature=share

incumbent

Preceded by
Danity Kane		 Making the Band winners
2007		 Most recent
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