Manny About Town

Taking the Spotlight
Donna Allen moves from back-up singer to front and center

By Manny Meland

Donna Allen

Backup singer Donna Allen moved stage front center at Prezzo Martini Bar & Grill in Loehman Plaza in Aventura. For nine years, Donna sang backup for Miami’s superstar Gloria Estefan. She also backed up singers Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Secada, and others in their performance and recording sessions. Presently, and for the past three years, she has been doing her act every Friday and Saturday at Prezzo.

I came to see her several weeks ago. A group of boisterous fun seekers crowded barstools and tables enjoying their cocktails and snacks as Donna’s sultry voice whispered, belted and hollered a medley of popular and contemporary tunes for our listening and dancing pleasure.

Although her music is defined as R&B and hot dance tunes, Allen’s singing history is grounded in gospel. This Florida girl was born in Key West and grew up in Tampa, where she became a cheerleader for Tampa Buccaneers. She eventually settled in Pompano. Every Sunday, she revisits her old church there to sing in the choir.

Her professional career had its start with local bands Hi-Octane and Trama. Perfect Timing, her first recording, was produced in 1986, and spawned her first single “Serious,” which landed at 20th place on the pop charts and 5th on the R&B charts.

Her career-defining gig was with a touring Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine. This put her in the sight of Emilio Estefan, who employed her talent as backup singer for several recording artists. Then, in 1995, Emilio and Jon Secada produced her recording “Real,” which was adopted by Sylvester Stallone for his film The Specialist.

Donna Allen and Manny Meland

She has had success with both in the U.S. and abroad. In 1987 she had two hits, “Satisfied” and “Sweet Somebody;” in 1988, one song, “Heaven on Earth” made the charts; and in 1989 she scored with both “Can We Talk?” and “Joy and Pain.” The Brits dug her too. “Serious” placed in 8th position on the U.K. Top 75 list. Then, in 1989, “Joy and Pain” came in at number 10. In 1995, her CD Real placed at number 34.

Allen told me that she has now decided to focus her attention on gospel music. She’s in good company. South Florida singers Alice Day, Juanita Dixon, Nicole Henry and Maryel Epps all sang the psalms to glorify the Lord. This music, however, has evolved and migrated from churches to blend and fuse with blues, country and rock and roll and is now offered as entertainment for the marketplace. For example, last year I enjoyed Epps’ Sunday gospel brunch gig at the Astor Hotel in Miami Beach. There, she donned a preacher’s cape to sing her praises to the diners. Allen is enthusiastic about her latest project, which will be a collection of traditional and original gospel tunes.

Chadwick, Mike Vidovich and Donna Allen

This evening at Prezzo, Donna added to her act by blending her voice with that of fellow singer Chadwick, who goes by one name, and whose voice perfectly complemented hers. The piano accompaniment of Mike Vidovich tied this program perfectly together.

Prezzo Martini Bar & Grill is located at 18831 Biscayne Blvd. For more information, call 305-931-5775

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