Biography

Gentile started the American Joule On the Road journey in the summer of 2021 when she and her daughter converted their vehicles and set out across America to learn the old ways, share music, art and design, and find a liberty-loving county to homestead in.

Donna believes music is medicine. Native spirit-inspired songs came through her after prayers to ancestors during the birth of her child and the passing of her father. Music also helped Gentile overcome abuse and gave her another creative way to heal, laugh, find her voice and reclaim her power. Gentile believes her past experiences with domestic violence helped her fully awaken in 2020 with eyes to see truth, which renewed her faith and fueled her love of country and passion for freedom.

Gentile’s roots are Irish, Lithuanian and German on her mother’s side, and Italian and Slovakian on her father’s side (that the family knows of). She reminds us that we all come from indigenous peoples with rich traditions, and that we are all connected. Her heart is Native. Donna grew up in the foothills of the Berkshire mountains in Connecticut and has deep connections to nature, which comes through in her songwriting. With parents singing at home—Mom whistling a happy tune and Dad singing and playing guitar, mandolin and harmonica—music rooted itself in Donna’s young heart, but she had no idea she could sing until later in life.

In 2006, after recording a birth song a cappella, Gentile’s vocal gift was revealed and Donna Gentile & The Human Element band formed with Gentile as lead vocalist playing rhythm guitar. The band performed R&B, swing, Zydeco, rockabilly and roots music and featured seasoned musicians Dan McNamara (vocals, piano, accordion), Steven Fishman (bass), Con “Coyote” Doty (lead guitar), Keith Legere (drums) and guest musicians on lap steel, mandolin and more.

Gentile went on to perform solo acoustic and as a duet with Rob “the Drummer” Gottfried (the legend who The Muppets fashioned “Animal” on Sesame Street after) at venues and events including Infinity Music Hall, Cheney Hall, Blueback Square, Mandell Jewish Community Center (with speaker, Meredith Baxter of Family Ties), Hope Out Loud Peace & Arts Festival, Legends Rock Bar, Northwest Park Nature Center, Lyceum Conference Center, Annual Walk for the Cure (WH) and numerous festivals, restaurants, coffee houses, farmers markets, benefits, house concerts and more.

Gentile’s music has been published on compilation albums to benefit people in recovery from abuse and addiction. This is Me is featured on The Thriver Workbook Companion CD published by Susan Omilian to benefit victims of abuse, and on Friday Night at LaSalle’s compilation CD to benefit Canton Community for Concern’s addiction recovery programs.

River Song for Kira, a gentle birthing song inspired by Cherokee tradition, was published in print in Voices Along the River: An Anthology of Nature Poems produced by the Connecticut DEP, Kellogg Environmental Center and Osborne Homestead Museum to benefit programs that protect the environment, and specifically our rivers.

In 2013, Infinity Music Hall selected Donna as a finalist in their Open Mic Competition.

In 2014, Gentile received a native name and was invited to perform River Song For Kira (Cherokee Gentle Birth Song), An American Song (for veterans), Crossing Over (honor song inspired by Tecumseh—Shawnee) and more at pow wows in New England including The Annual Daniel Nimham Pow Wow Honoring Veterans (Kent/Carmel, NY), Golden Hill Paugussett Pow Wow (Goshen, CT) and Wolf Den Pow Wow (Pomfret, CT).

In 2018, Gentile released her debut album Music is Medicine. Tracks feature Donna Gentile on vocals, acoustic guitar and Native hand drum, and Tom White on acoustic guitar, resonator guitar, bass, viola, violin and percussion. Listen and purchase at donnagentile.com/music.

Today, Donna uses music to raise the vibe, empower with stories of triumph, spread love, inspire liberty and support local farms and homesteads, small Made in America businesses, artisans and farmers markets. She can be hired as a headliner or opening act and is currently booking in towns across America.

To see where Donna is now, visit donnagentile.com/music.

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Connect and book music at donnagentile.com/contact.