Donnie Tatem

Silver Bells Donnie Tatem

An extremely talented vocalist raised in the gospel tradition, LaVon "Donnie" Tatem has become one of the most popular singers in the Philly Soul tradition. Tatem began his recording career as a member of the group Gentlemen Of Leisure that recorded the single "Never Had A Love Like This Before" in 1980. He can also be heard on the movie score of "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" on Lorimar Records in 1979. In 1981, Donnie joined the legendary acappella gospel group "The Stars Of Harmony" based out of Woodbury, New Jersey. In 1995, Tatem scored the lead role in the off-Broadway production "If Only For You" in Atlantic City and continued touring as a solo gospel artist until 2008 when he joined TRU with singers James "Jimi" Williams and Primo Wansley. The group attracted the attention of legendary Philly soul producer Butch Ingram and recorded the critically acclaimed album My Love Is TRU in 2010 on Society Hill Records, to which Donnie contributed the songs "Night & Day Dreams" and "Who Do You See When You Look At Me?." Since then, Donnie has become an invaluable vocalist on many of the Society Hill sessions that Ingram produces, and in 2016 Donnie made his solo album debut with the critically acclaimed "Ain't No Love" which further cemented his status as a songwriter and lead vocalist who many consider the "cream of the crop." Donnie is featured here backed by members of INGRAM and the Society Hill Orchestra singing the heart-warming Christmas classic, "Silver Bells." The new single includes a beautiful instrumental version as an added bonus. .