Donna Loren

Artist Information

Biography

Donna Loren’s name is synonymous with the Swinging 60’s era of music, motion pictures, television, and fashion. Donna began her singing career at the age of five, when she won second prize on an amateur show. By nine, she had cut her first record, “I Think It’s Almost Christmas Time,” and by the age of ten, she appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club TV Show.

In 1963 she signed a 7-year contract as the “Dr Pepper Girl” and was their spokesperson on TV, radio, billboards, magazines and personal appearances. This led to her co-starring roles in Beach Blanket Bingo and four more Beach Party movies.

Donna was a magnet on TV and was featured on iconic television shows throughout the sixties, including roles on Batman, The Monkees, The Milton Berle Show, The Red Skelton Show, Gomer Pyle, Dr. Kildare and the full run of the wildly popular #1 music show on ABC, Shindig! In 1968, she was chosen by Danny Thomas and Aaron Spelling to have her own television series entitled Two for Penny.

A Capitol and Reprise recording artist, she released 20 singles and the LP soundtrack from “Beach Blanket Bingo”. A CD entitled “The Very Best of Donna Loren: Beach Blanket Bingo” was released by Collectables Records in 2000 and is still in distribution.

In 1968 Donna entered a private life until 2009 when she released a CD with 11 of the best tracks she recorded in the 80’s with James Burton and the TCB (Elvis) Band. "Love It Away", her first all-new album in decades, was released the following year. The title song off her album, “Love It Away (Remix)” charted at #15 on the FMQB AC chart for the week of 7/13/10 and finished at #52 on the 2010 Year-End chart. For Holiday, Donna has released a 4-song EP entitled "Donna Does Elvis in Hawaii" consisting of four songs recorded previously by Elvis including her Holiday single, "Merry Christmas Baby", which charted at #41 on the FMQB AC chart for week of 12/710.

Throughout her entire Hollywood career, Donna Loren designed and created her own clothing. In 1963 she did a commercial for the Simplicity Pattern Company, a premonition of her successful future as a fashion designer. From 1997 to 2007, she designed her own line of clothing and had three high profile boutiques in Hawaii as well as a major online business. Truly ahead of her time, she is now riding the wave of the future.

Please see Ms Loren's Resume in the "Basic Req" section of this EPK.

Instrumentation

Deke Dickerson - Guitar

Discography

CD
-Best of Donna Loren (1998)
-The Very Best of Donna Loren/Beach Blanket Bingo
(2000)
-MAGIC – The 80’s Collection (2009)
-Love It Away (2010)

EP
-Donna Does Elvis in Hawaii (2010)

DIGITAL SINGLES
-It Only Hurts When I Cry (2009)
-Love It Away (Remix) (2010) *Charted at #15 on FMQB AC Chart for week of 7/13/2010, #52 for the year.
-Beach Blanket Bingo (2010)
-Muscle Bustle (2010)
-Beach Party Movie Medley (2010)
-Eloquent (2010)
-Merry Christmas Baby (2010) *Charted at #41 on FMQB Chart for week of 12/72010
-Moonlight Kisses (2012)

LP
-Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)

45 RPM
-Wishin’ and Hopin' (1984)
-Somewhere Down The Road (1984)
-Sedona (1982)
-Simply Loving You (1982)
-As Long As I’m Holding You (1967)
-It’s Such A Shame (1967)
-Let’s Pretend (1967)
-Once Before I Die (1967)
-Play Little Music Box, Play (1965)
-I Believe (1965)
-Call Me (1965)
-Smokey Joe’s (1965)
-So, Do The Zonk (1965)
-New Love (1965)
-Ten Good Reasons (1964)
-Ninety Day Guarantee (1964)
-Blowing Out The Candles (1964)
-Just A Little Girl (1964)
-Muscle Bustle (1964)
-How Can I Face The World (1964)
-Danny (1963)
-I Can’t Make My Heart Say Goodbye (1963)
-I’m Gonna Be Alright (1963)
-Johnny’s Got Something (1963)
-I’m The One Who Loves You (1963)
-Dream World (1963)
-On The Good Ship Lollipop (1962)
-If You Love Me, Really Love Me (1962)
-I’m In Love With the Ticket Taker (1962)
-I’m Gonna Be Alright (1962)
-Sailor Sailor (1962)
-Tony (1962)
-Hands Off (1962)
-I’m So Lonely (1962)
-The More I See Him (1960)
-(Oo-we) Can’t You See (1960)
(Recorded as Donna Dee)
-Honey Buggie (1960)
-Keeping Company (1960)
(Recorded as Barbie Ames)
-I Think It’s Almost Christmas Time (1957)
(Recorded as Donna Zukor)

Official Website

http://www.donnaloren.net

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Wikipedia
• YouTube
• YouTube-Vintage
• Donna Loren's Store
• Donna Loren's Blog

Audio

• Love It Away (Remix)
  Listen  
• Old Man
  Listen  
• I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
  Listen  
• Merry_Christmas_Baby.MP3
  Listen  
• Shakin' All Over
  Listen  
• Still Love You
  Listen  
• One_Night-FINAL.MP3
  Listen  
• Sedona
  Listen  
• Loving_You-FINAL.MP3
  Listen  
• (Let Me Be Your)_Teddy_Bear-FINAL.MP3
  Listen  
• Last Night I Had a Dream
  Listen  
• Love It Away
  Listen  
• Only Love
  Listen  
• OK
  Listen  
• Be Your Best Friend
  Listen  
• We Are Woman
  Listen  
• UR
  Listen  
• Live Nude Cabaret
  Listen  
• Don't Bring Me Down
  Listen  
• Satisfied Mind
  Listen  
• It Only Hurts When I Cry (2009)-Single
  Listen  
• Could This Be Magic
  Listen  
• Thinkin' Of You
  Listen  
• Wishin' and Hopin'
  Listen  
• Eulogy of a Marriage
  Listen  
• Eloquent
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Could This Be Magic
• Eulogy of a Marriage
• Love It Away
• Only Love
• OK
• Be You Best Friend
• We Are Woman
• UR
• Still Love You

Video

Love It Away (Remix)

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

Photo Gallery

Press

• Donna Loren Resume
  

  Donna Loren Resume

• Music Review: Donna Loren - Donna Does Elvis In Hawaii (EP) [+ Show ]
  

  Excerpt: "Donna Loren has always had just about a perfect pop voice and it remains intact on Donna D...Excerpt: "Donna Loren has always had just about a perfect pop voice and it remains intact on Donna Does Elvis in Hawaii. My only complaint is I wish she would have expanded it into a complete album, but since that did not happen we have to be content with this small slice of pop Elvis covers."

• Donna Loren is alive and well and back in the studio again. [+ Show ]
  

  Excerpt: "Last year she returned with her first album of newly recorded material in decades. Love It...Excerpt: "Last year she returned with her first album of newly recorded material in decades. Love It Away combined eight original compositions with seven cover songs. The production is crisp and her vocals remain clear and strong as she has what best can be described as a pure pop voice. The packaging contains the lyrics to the songs which is always appreciated, plus there are some nice pictures included as well. The surprising aspect of the album is provided by Donna Loren, the songwriter. I had not thought of her in that context but the songs are melodic and contain some personal and introspective lyrics. Songs such as “Only Love,” “We Are Women,” “OK,” and the title track are all worth a listen."
  

• Music Review: "Donna Does Elvis in Hawaii" [+ Show ]
  

  A worthy ending to the EP is One Night. I was a little sceptical of this number, especially when you...A worthy ending to the EP is One Night. I was a little sceptical of this number, especially when you know the version of Elvis (and then I mean the raw version of the ’68 Comeback Special when he cried out all of his feelings). But the implementation of Donna is impressive!
  She clearly puts a lot of feeling in the song and it shows off.
  If you’re looking for a swinging album, you better find something else. But when you’re planning a romantic evening with your loved-one, it’s the perfect sound.

• Music Review: Donna Loren "Love It Away" [+ Show ]
  

  Donna Loren is a sixties girl that made appearances on all kinds of TV shows and movies. That work c...Donna Loren is a sixties girl that made appearances on all kinds of TV shows and movies. That work carried her a long way and now so many years later, her voice still resonates and touches those within earshot. Now in her early sixties living in Hawaii, she has embraced new technologies and decided to cut a new album titled Love It Away.
  The recording is a mixture of originals and carefully picked covers. Besides maintaining a commanding and beautiful vocal style she adds keyboards and percussion to the album. The main instrument is her voice, with a resounding sense of definition I might add.
  The title track, “Still Love You”, “Only Love”, “OK”, “We Are Woman” and “UR” develop into a fine set of originals with some well known rock and pop standards sandwiched in between. The most prolific cover is Neil Young’s “Old Man”. When I saw that listed I had my doubts as anyone would after hearing her original material. Her voice is so silky smooth yet powerful when she throws all of her emotion into it. Even so, how could she even come close to Young’s original? Well she pulls it off and makes it her own, and that is the X factor, the difference. Some artists make the mistake of trying to sound like the original artist when they cover a track, not Donna, it’s all her and it totally works. “Shakin’ All Over” is exceptional as well, it has that original haunting vibe and reverberating vocal that I remember when I first heard it, which actually was the Guess Who version in the early seventies.
  I think one of the reasons for the success of this recording besides Donna’s flat out stunning vocal performance, is the production is kept to a minimum and the instrumentation generally focuses on the keyboards highlighting the sweet sensual vocals of Ms. Loren.
  With the help of Skype Donna was able to produce the album from Hawaii right in the studio in Los Angeles. The importance of this release can be found beyond the music, it is a personal statement from the artist and her heartfelt interpretation of her feelings relating to her own life. Whatever emotional pain this woman has experienced she sounds strong enough to have dealt with it and moved on by allowing love and her own heart to let the scars heal. I can hear it and feel it in her voice on both versions of “Love It Away”. Every other track can be considered somewhat of a departure from all of that intensity, in fact many of the tracks usher in some levity to bring the listener back into the here and now after reflecting on the singers’ passionate plea for the redemption of her soul.
  Love It Away is music to listen to while in the car, at home, while you are alone sitting underneath a tree on a hot summer’s day. This is music to remember how to love life and cherish every breath you take. An artist like Donna Loren brings back the innocence of another time while reminding us that living today can still be enjoyable and entertaining while listening to music and bringing out those memories from the attic in your mind, blowing off the dust and reliving every moment once again.
  4/5 Stars, June 8, 2010
  

• Donna Loren has been featured in the latest issue of MF Magazine! [+ Show ]
  

  MF is a rad international, quarterly publication that blends the best in independent music, fashion,...MF is a rad international, quarterly publication that blends the best in independent music, fashion, film and the arts in a revolutionary way. It’s not what you typically see on your local newsstand. MF pushes the boundaries of the magazine industry by providing thought provoking interviews with equal presence to both the well known and lesser known names of the groundbreaking, independent thinkers who will shape our future. The magazine is available on the web and also in print.
  
  

• Donna Loren featured in Texas Hot Country Magazine!
  

  Click on link to read article

• "BLAST FROM the past: Donna Loren? [+ Show ]
  

  "BLAST FROM the past: Donna Loren? Some of you must remember Miss Loren. She is a singer who appeare..."BLAST FROM the past: Donna Loren? Some of you must remember Miss Loren. She is a singer who appeared in five - count 'em five - beach party movies. (Annette Funicello in her matronly bikinis!) Donna also became the official "spokesteen" for Dr. Pepper. And she recorded an album. OK, we're not talking Lesley Gore here, but Donna had her little moment.
  
  After a long hiatus - hubby, kids, a retail business in Hawaii - Donna has come back with a self-produced CD titled "Love It Away." It includes songs such as "Live Nude Cabaret," "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" and "Shakin' All Over." Check out Ms. Loren's video on YouTube - high camp in John Waters's waters."
  
  Liz Smith, March 17th, 2010
  Full Article at: http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/liz-smith-will-prince-and-purple-reign-again-kd-lang-recollection-454395?page=0%2C0
  

• Beverly Hills Resident, Singer Donna Loren Makes Her Comeback After 42 Years [+ Show ]
  

  Donna Loren was the “It Girl” long before Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian hit the streets of Beverly...Donna Loren was the “It Girl” long before Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian hit the streets of Beverly Hills.
  
  Back in the mid 1960s, she was seen as the “Dr. Pepper Girl” in TV commercials and print ads as a real life “Gidget” who was also seen singing in movies like Beach Blanket Bingo and Muscle Beach Party and in TV’s Shindig! where she sang pop tunes along the lines of The Beatles, Beach Boys, and Rolling Stones, circa 1964 and '65.
  
  Loren appeared on '60s classic sitcoms like Batman (She was the Joker's gal “Susie” in The Joker Goes To School episode in 1966 and as a princess in a memorable episode of The Monkees as Davy Jones love interest that same year.
  
  She married record company executive and producer Lenny Waronker in 1968 and left the business to raise her three kids, one of whom Joey Waronker is a professional drummer now on the road with Norah Jones.
  
  Now, 42 years later, Loren is back with a new album, Love It Away with several original songs written by her and covers of classics like Bob Dylan's I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Jackson Browne's Live Nude Cabaret and Randy Newman's Last Night I Had A Dream.
  
  The album has been compared to the great concept albums like Joni Mitchell's Blue album and The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, because of the confessional and ultra personal lyrics that Loren has written on her original songs and the way she has taken on classics like Neil Young's Old Man in a whole new light.
  
  Loren, who divides her time between Beverly Hills and Hawaii with her second husband Jered Cargman, is working with Beverly Hills PR man Hal Lifson at establishing herself again on record and as a live performer with a show planned for later this spring at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica.
  
  “I'm thrilled to be performing music again” chimes Loren, who for years ran a successful clothing retail business in Hawaii.
  
  “It is where my heart and soul is. This time, I'm back to stay...I certainly can't think about taking another 42 years off!” For more information, visit DonnaLoren.net.

• Donna Loren Review: "MAGIC" [+ Show ]
  

  "With absolute regal poise and grace Donna Loren delivers a completely soulful and heart warming mus..."With absolute regal poise and grace Donna Loren delivers a completely soulful and heart warming musical offering. Having started working those vocal chords at the ripe age of 5, it’s no wonder she can powerhouse her way into our hearts with exceptional ease and prowess.
  
  Donna Loren has compiled a starlit past with numerous television appearances and movie roles under her belt and has once again entered the music world with a wonderful outing of pop/country meshed with a ton of soul.
  
  A truly enjoyable experience from song to song Donna brings all of her passion leaving it all on the table for us to wrap and immerse ourselves in her world of love and hope.
  
  Donna’s latest album is a mixture of her earlier recordings with her newer efforts and although the flavors of this latest release by Donna Loren are painted with the airs of an earlier era there is enough punch and musical grit here to bring in some of our modern day country/pop music lovers into the fray… herein lies the roots of pop and country music passion.
  
  Great production and a flawlessly effortless vocal montage will have music lovers of all genres humming along and appreciating these timeless gems of musical grace."
  
  -Duss Rodgers, Jan 5, 2010

• Music Review: Donna Loren - Magic: The '80s Collection [+ Show ]
  

  It has always perplexed me that Donna Loren did not become a star but such is life in the music ...
  
  It has always perplexed me that Donna Loren did not become a star but such is life in the music field. She is best remembered for appearing in four films with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. She sang a song in Beach Blanket Bingo, Bikini Beach, Muscle Beach Party, and Pajama Party but I don’t think she ever had a line of dialogue. She would go on to perform on Shindig and appear in such television shows as Dr. Kildare, Batman, and The Monkees but would gradually fade from the public eye.
  
  Through the early eighties she was married to the president of Warner Brothers Records. This gave her a lot of free time in their recording studios. She would record every month or so and surrounded herself with such musicians as John Thomas and the legendary James Burton. Several of the tracks were released over the years and others have just sat gathering dust.
  
  Just the presence of James Burton should generate interest. He is one of the best guitarists alive and is still remembered for leading bands for Rick Nelson (1958-1967), Elvis Presley (1969-1977), and John Denver (1978-1994).
  
  Donna Loren has now gathered these 80s recordings and released them under the title Magic: The 80’s Collection. It is a mixed affair of styles mainly do to the intermittent recording schedule. Through it all, however, Donna Loren proves she has a a powerful and formidable voice.
  
  The albums two best tracks are truly mismatched. Her rendition of the old war horse “Wishin’ and Hopin” is a nice slice of early eighties pop. The real gem is her self penned “Sedona.” James Burton re-assembled some of his old Elvis band mates for this country tune. Drummer Ronnie Tutt, bassist Jimmy Scheff, and piano player Glen D. Hardin back her on this sophisticated song which I believe could still be a hit.
  
  While there are a few misses and some eighties excess, several other songs also stand out. “Could This Be Magic” is catchy but would have been better served to not have so many instruments yet it still contains a superior vocal. “Somewhere Down The Road” is a good vehicle for her to strut her vocal prowess.
  
  Magic: The 80’s Collection is a nice look at an under rated and long lost artist. It was released in 2009 and provided the impetus for her return to the studio to record a new album titled "Love It Away". Welcome back Donna Loren!
  

• The Very Best of Donna Loren CD [+ Show ]
  

  True, this 26-song CD doesn't look at all like an authorized release. It's also true that 17 of the ...True, this 26-song CD doesn't look at all like an authorized release. It's also true that 17 of the songs are on the official Beach Blanket Bingo: The Very Best of Donna Loren CD compilation, which has a couple of tracks ("Play Little Music Box Play" and "I Believe") that somehow didn't make it onto this anthology. Still, it does have nine cuts that aren't on Beach Blanket Bingo: The Very Best of Donna Loren, and if you hang out at specialist record stores, you'll probably be just as apt to find this CD as the other one. You might find it the preferable option, too, as there's more material and the sound's good (though one suspects it's not mastered from the original tapes), even if there's nothing in the way of liner notes except track listings and songwriting credits. As for the music, while Loren was a far better singer than most women (or men) playing bit parts in '60s teen beach movies, it's least-common-denominator '60s pop/rock. The production ambition is there, variously echoing the girl group sound, surf music, and late-period teen idol pop. What's missing? Really special songs, and a distinctive attitude on part of either the singer or her composers and producers. As for the tracks here not on the more high-profile, authorized Loren best-of, none are exceptional, and some are off-puttingly trivial ("I'm in Love with the Ticket Taker at the Bijou Movie," "On the Good Ship Lollipop"). But a few are, relatively speaking, among her better efforts, including the frivolous surf romp "Muscle Bustle" (co-written by Brian Wilson), the girl group tune "Johnny's Got Somethin'," and the more mature cuts "It's Such a Shame" and "As Long as I'm Holding You," which sound as though they date from later in the '60s than the rest of the package. ~ Richie Unterberger
  

• Interview with "Bulldog" Bill Feingold [+ Show ]
  

  Aired live: 11-5-09 Link to Podcast: http://podcasts.sixradiosites.com/knews/audio/bf110509hr2.mp3...Aired live: 11-5-09
  Link to Podcast:
  http://podcasts.sixradiosites.com/knews/audio/bf110509hr2.mp3
  

• 60's Star Donna Loren Signs to Blue Pie Records [+ Show ]
  

  May 14, 2011: Blue Pie are excited to announce the signing of 60's film, modeling and music star Don...May 14, 2011: Blue Pie are excited to announce the signing of 60's film, modeling and music star Donna Loren!

• Beach blanket beauty: The swinging ’60s of Donna Loren [+ Show ]
  

  May 25, 2012: "Some pretty big stars had featured songs in the "beach party" movies of the 1960s: St...May 25, 2012: "Some pretty big stars had featured songs in the "beach party" movies of the 1960s: Stevie Wonder, Nancy Sinatra, Dorothy Lamour, Dick Dale and, of course, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello." So how did Donna Loren — whose claim to fame then was as the spokesgirl for Dr. Pepper — land songs in "Beach Blanket Bingo," "Bikini Beach," "Pajama Party" and "Muscle Beach Party"?
  Read more by clicking on URL.

Setlist

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Donna Loren Resume

Calendar