Donald Joseph Klang (born January 23, 1985) is an American singer. He won Making the Band 4 and was awarded his own solo contract by Diddy. He released his debut album, Just a Rolling Stone, in late 2008.

Donnie Klang
Birth nameDonald Joseph Klang
Born (1985-01-23) January 23, 1985 (age 39)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active2005–present
LabelsBad Boy, Eight72, Twenty Two

Life and career

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Klang was born in Brooklyn, New York.[1] He began modeling as a baby and doing television and film work from a young age, getting minor roles on NYPD Blue to The Nanny.[2] He was in a band in middle school, later attending chorus in high school.[3] He was part of pop groups in St. Dominic High School and Island Trees High School, namely Playa Deception and INT. The latter which released an independent record called Hip-Pop.[2] He attended Hofstra University briefly studying music management and business and minoring in music.[2][3][4] Klang decided to take a semester off of college to pursue a music career with his group.[3]

Klang had been in INT for nine years before it broke up because their parents wanted them to go back to school as the band was going nowhere.[4] He auditioned for American Idol twice but never got past the first round.[2] These events led to him being apprehensive of pursuing music further.[5] Not long after returning to Hofstra and working at a warehouse, the opportunity came for Making the Band 4 and he again took time off from college in 2007.[6][4] An acquaintance had entered his MySpace account into an audition which he later attended at the encouragement of his family.[5] He was awarded his own solo contract by Diddy instead of a spot in the group. Klang released his debut album, Just a Rolling Stone, in late 2008 which peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard 200. He later opened for Janet Jackson in the fall.[2]

Klang split with Bad Boy Records in mid-2010, signing with independent label Eight72 Entertainment.[7] He began working on his second album at the same time.[8] He later started his own record label, Donnie Klang Entertainment and released his first single "Falling 4U" in 2011. He also released a mixtape on Valentine's Day.[9] "X-Miss" was also released as a single for Christmas in 2011.

Artistry

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Klang has listed Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Usher, The Fray, OneRepublic, Justin Timberlake, Brian McKnight, Michael Jackson and James Brown as musical influences.[10][11] He co-wrote most of Just a Rolling Stone.[11]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[12]
2008 Just a Rolling Stone 19

Singles

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Year Single Album
2008 "Take You There" (featuring Diddy) Just a Rolling Stone

Music videos

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Year Song Director
2008 "Take You There" Ray Kay[13]
2009 "Prisoner Of Love" Littles
2011 "Falling 4U" Michael Dispenza[14]
"X-Miss" Kraze[15]

References

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  1. ^ Collar, Matt. "Biography: Donnie Klang". All Media Guide. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e La Gorce, Tammy (September 21, 2008). "From Levittown, a New Voice Emerges". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b c "Levittowner Competes on MTV's Making the Band 4". Antonnews.com. August 3, 2007. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "AMPED UP | The Re-Making of Donnie Klang « Full Blast Magazine". Fullblastmagazine.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Interview with Making the Band 4's Donnie Klang « Crushable". Crushable.com. August 21, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  6. ^ Gamboa, Glenn. "Donnie Klang gets a push from Diddy < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  7. ^ "Bits: Big Boi, Lollapalooza, Donnie Klang, Daniel Lanois and More". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Date: 05/24/10 (May 24, 2010). "Bad Boy 'No More,' Donnie Klang Readies New Album". Singersroom.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Valentine's Day Mixtape Mixtape by Donnie Klang Hosted by DJ Spin King & DJ Swivet". Datpiff.com. February 14, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  10. ^ "Donnie Klang – Interviews – Entertainment". ALLOY.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Date: 09/01/08 (October 7, 2008). "Donnie Klang: One Man Band". Singersroom.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "( Donnie Klang > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )". allmusic. January 23, 1985. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  13. ^ "Music Video News: SHOT: Donnie Klang f/ Diddy – Ray Kay, director". Video Static. June 17, 2008. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  14. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved April 5, 2020.[dead YouTube link]
  15. ^ "Donnie Klang – "X-Miss" (Official Music Video) Dir. By Kraze". YouTube. December 25, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
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Preceded by Making the Band winners
2007
Most recent