I have always loved this tune

I cannot find anything about Donna and the Avin record label which entertained Andre Williams and Roy Hightower

I hope there is someone that can let us know  about both

 

 

Not sure myself but believe she maybe a jazz singer. 

Edited December 7, 20186 yr by philb

Did a bit of internet searching last year - found nothing on Donna.

Her sides were done by Teen Town Productions. This outfit seemed to originate in La Crosse, Wisconsin (a small city on the banks of the Mississippi River between Chicago & Minneapolis St Paul). They usually cut white garage bands, putting their stuff out on labels such as Coulee, Twin Town and Transaction. The writer of both songs on her 45 was Chicago based David Wilkerson (who worked a lot for One-derful / Mar-V-Lus).

So (to me) that points to her being from the La Crosse / Chicago region and having hooked up with Teen Town Prods to cut her tracks which escaped on Chicago based Avin Records. Although her 45 credits just Wilkerson as being the writer, when registered with BMI the song had gained another writer; Veron Taplin. It seems that Taplin had connections with Bill Lasley's Celtex & Avin Record labels and got his name on the song via that means. 

One of the most NS style 'garage band' records cut by Teen Town Prods was the Unchained Mynds - GOING BACK TO MIAMI (a cover of the Wayne Cochran song done in a Mitch Ryder & Det. Whs fashion) ....   

 

This doesn't help ID who Donna was but provides some background on her cuts.

Edited December 7, 20186 yr by Roburt

50 minutes ago, Roburt said:

Her sides were done by Teen Town Productions. This outfit seemed to originate in La Crosse, Wisconsin (a small city on the banks of the Mississippi River between Chicago & Minneapolis St Paul). They usually cut white garage bands, putting their stuff out on labels such as Coulee, Twin Town and Transaction. The writer of both songs on her 45 was Chicago based David Wilkerson (who worked a lot for One-derful / Mar-V-Lus).

So (to me) that points to her being from the La Crosse / Chicago region and having hooked up with Teen Town Prods to cut her tracks which escaped on Chicago based Avin Records. Although her 45 credits just Wilkerson as being the writer, when registered with BMI the song had gained another writer; Veron Taplin. It seems that Taplin had connections with Bill Lasley's Celtex & Avin Record labels and got his name on the song via that means. 

One of the most NS style 'garage band' records cut by Teen Town Prods was the Unchained Mynds - GOING BACK TO MIAMI (a cover of the Wayne Cochran song done in a Mitch Ryder & Det. Whs fashion) ....   

 

This doesn't help ID who Donna was but provides some background on her cuts.

Great stuff, thanks you mentioned Avin was Chicago, do you have any more info on the label please

David Wilkerson is also credited with writing Perk Lee's - The Docks !!! Great record.