Atlanta-based singer Donnie first made himself known around 2001 with the release of two tracks, “Do You Know?” and “Our New National Anthem.” The former song sounded very reminiscent of “Flying Easy,” which was performed by one of Donnie’s influences, Donny Hathaway. Besides Hathaway, it was evident on the 2002 album, The Colored Section, that Donnie’s sound was also derived from Stevie Wonder and the gospel music he was exposed to by his preacher parents. To call his vocals and songwriting a “throwback” to R&B/Soul’s golden age of the 1970s would be an easy, and somewhat accurate assessment. But the idea discounts his individuality and the fact that Colored came out in an era where performing poetic lyrics with live instrumentation were, for the most part, foreign concepts. The difference in quality between Donnie’s output and the majority of his contemporaries was great, making him highly visible to consumers who had discerning tastes.

Originally released independently through Giant Step Records, Colored was eventually distributed through Motown after Donnie signed with the former R&B powerhouse label. Five years later, he finds himself back in indie status supporting the recently released, The Daily News. Venturing away from the direct channeling of Hathaway and Wonder, News can be seen more as a 13-track statement on American society, as is apparent on the album’s second single, “911.”

Given News’ subject matter and Donnie’s goal to make music that makes people think, he’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill crooner. Instead, he’s an artist who challenges his audience to seek a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Photo from the Soultalk website.

Donnie will be performing tonight with special guest Julie Dexter at the Black Cat. Doors at 9 p.m. $20.