• “Lou Donaldson is definitely considered one of the greatest alto sax players on the scene today and he has contributed more to the art of playing alto than about anyone around…”
    Stanley News & Press, September 1993

    Paul Jeffrey, Tenor Saxophonist
  • ” He’s listened to just about everyone, and not only alto players. With this knowledge of the entire jazz language,
    Lou is definitely an individual voice.”

    Horace Parlan
  •  “The octogenarian virtuoso has lost little to the passing decades.”

    The Chicago Tribune
  • “He remains the leading exponent of this soul-jazz approach. Yet even at its bluesiest, his playing remains informed by bebop.”

    The New York Times
  • “My first impulse is always to describe Lou Donaldson as the greatest alto saxophonist in the world.”
    The New York Sun, January 2007

    Will Friedwald

NO FUSION — NO CONFUSION

JUST STRAIGHT AHEAD JAZZ, BEBOP & BLUES

Lou Donaldson in Concert at Kennedy Center 2014-for slider

LOU’S SIGNATURE TUNE

Lou's Signature Tune: Blues Walk

Lou’s Signature Tune: Blues Walk

BEBOP MASTER PLAYS WEE

BEBOP MASTER PLAYS CHEROKEE

LOU PLAYS ALL TIME HIT ALLIGATOR BOOGALOO

SPECIAL APPEARANCES

[gigpress_shows]

Lou & Charlie Parker 1953 or 1954 at Paradise on 110th Street & 8th Avenue in Harlem (Credit: Photographer Unknown)
(Credit: Photographer Unknown)


HONORS TO LOU

Sweet Poppa Lou Unveils “Lou Donaldson Boulevard” Sign on NC Highway 740 in Hometown Badin, NC!

See Lou Donaldson News!

“Lou Donaldson Boulevard” Named in Sweet Poppa Lou’s Hometown — Badin, NC!

The Department of Transportation Named NC Highway 740 in Badin, NC

“LOU DONALDSON BOULEVARD”!

 

Invitation Lou Donaldson Boulevard Highway Dedication

 

For more information about Lou Donaldson Boulevard, contact Town of Badin – https://badin.org/index.html or https://www.facebook.com/BadinNC

Badin, NC Seeks to Re-Name Highway “Lou Donaldson Boulevard”

January 14, 2020

Lou’s hometown Badin, North Carolina passed a resolution honoring its native son and publicly declaring its intention to re-name a portion of its NC Highway 740
“Lou Donaldson Boulevard.”

Read More…

Lou Inducted Into South Florida Hall of Fame

July 28, 2019

THE SUNSHINE JAZZ ORGANIZATION, INC.
Miami, FL USA
https://www.sunshinejazz.org/default.html

SOUTH FLORIDA HALL OF FAME
Founder, Legendary First Lady of Jazz Alice Day

 

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SAVE THE DATE!
Help LOU Celebrate His
97th BIRTHDAY
at
DIZZY'S NYC
on
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30!!!

Lou Donaldson gives remarks at 96th Birthday Celebration in November at Dizzy's NYC as Jerry Weldon, Champian Fulton & Akiko Tsuruga enjoy!

Be There!! Get tickets and more information about Lou's 97th Birthday Party!!
Lou loves meeting his fans! Join the party and bring your favorite CD or album for him to autograph!

Also read about LOU DONALDSON BOULEVARD named in Lou's honor!