Donal Leace

Donal Richard Leace (May 6, 1939 – November 21, 2020). He was born in Huntington, West Virginia, became a world renowned folk singer, civil rights activist and educator. He was raised in Philadelphia and later moved to New York City and Washington D.C.

Leace received a degree from Howard University and graduate degrees from Georgetown University and George Washington University. He was also honored as both a Fulbright Scholar and US Presidential Scholar.

During the 1960s he worked and lived at The Cellar Door in Georgetown. For a while a sign at the club read “The Home of Donal Leace”. He performed with John Denver, Nina Simone, Odetta, Judy Collins, Muddy Waters, Ramsey Lewis, The Staple Singers, The Chad Mitchell Trio, Manhattan Transfer, Take 6, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGee, Big Mama Thornton and Emmylou Harris. He toured nationally with Nancy Wilson and worldwide with Roberta Flack.

He also appeared and recorded with comedians Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Mort Sahl and Dick Gregory. Leace had notable Television appearances on The Today Show, Sunday Morning, and the David Frost show. Leace is mentioned in the discography of Keith Jarrett. Leace was Chair of the Drama Department at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, DC, where some of his notable students included Dave Chappelle and Denyce Graves. Leace often appeared on Dick Cerri's radio show, Music Americana and participated in World Folkmusic Association (WFMA) events including their annual concerts.

Accolades after his death included this from the Duke Ellington School

REST IN PEACE/PARADISE to former EllingtonArts faculty “After moving to the nation's capital in 1960, singer-songwriter, educator & civil rights advocate, Donal Leace earned the moniker "Washington’s Favorite Folk Singer.”

Leace’s recordings of “Oh! Alabama” and “The Death of Medgar Evers” on some of his many recordings captured the pathos of the 60’s Civil Rights era.