About Donna Herula
Winner of “Best Traditional Blues Artist” and “Best Acoustic Blues Album” for “Bang at the Door” (2022 Independent Blues Awards)
“A truly gifted virtuoso of the resonator guitar who also possesses the most stunning of voices. Herula is a Chicago born Blues artist of the highest order who not only sings, plays slide but also is a more than accomplished composer.”
— Peter Merrett, PBS 106.7 FM, Melbourne, Australia
Hailed for her “superlative guitar prowess” (Living Blues Magazine), Donna Herula is an award-winning blues singer, songwriter, resonator slide guitarist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee. She is the bandleader of the Donna Herula Trio (an acoustic folk-blues group) and the Donna Herula Band (a 6-piece electric blues band). She is also a blues fingerstyle and slide guitar teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.
In 2022, Donna won Independent Blues Awards for “Best Traditional Blues Artist” and “Best Acoustic Blues Album” for her 3rd album “Bang at the Door.” She also won “Best AAA/Alternative Song” at the International Acoustic Music Awards for the title track.
According to Mark Thompson from Blues Blast Magazine, Donna “conveys matters of the heart with a striking sense of vulnerability.” Her songwriting and performances include a range of styles blending Mississippi Delta, Folk, Chicago Blues, Soul, Pop, Gospel and New Orleans.
Donna has been a regular performer at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago for the past 15 years and has opened for Buddy Guy multiple times. She has performed at numerous folk and blues festivals and venues in the US, Deep South, Europe and South Africa including the Chicago Blues Festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival, and Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland.
Her award-winning songs have been played internationally, including on the BBC and SiriusXM – BB King’s Bluesville’s Top 15 Rack of Blues (most played songs), and her last album was on numerous “Best of” music lists, including Living Blues Magazine Top 50 Albums and IBBA Most Played Albums.
Since 2024, Donna has also been performing with Downtown Charlie Brown and blues legend, John Primer, on exciting Mississippi Delta Blues and Folk Blues projects.
Donna’s new album, “Cold Feet” will be released on September 18, 2026. The styles range from folk, soul, gospel, pop to electric Chicago Blues. Go to: https://donnaherula.com/store/ for more information.
Reviews for “Bang at the Door” (released in 2021)
“This album certainly will be destined for awards — it’s the best acoustic blues and roots album I’ve heard in at least a year, if not longer. I most highly recommend this CD for all lovers of traditional and acoustic blues. It’s a wonderful mix of Delta and Chicago blues with some great folky overtones. I don’t think I can pick out a favorite cut here because they are all superb. Eleven fine originals and three marvelous covers make for some really interesting and classic performances from top to bottom.”
— Steve Jones, Chicago Blues Guide
“Herula delivers a set that is powerful, passionate, and a great listen. The originals here draw from personal experience, giving them a level of power not found in much of the current blues scene.”
— Bill Wilson, Reflections in Blue
“Black Ice” and [Donna’s version of] Lucinda Williams’ “Jackson” are the kind of masterful performances that I’d like to say should be mandatory listening in music class.”
— Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro, Mary 4 Music
“People are going to start talking about Donna Herula, beginning with her superlative guitar prowess. Herula managed to bring out an album with the female perspective.”
— Frank Matheis, Living Blues
Black Ice
Who's Been Cookin' in My Kitchen
Got What I Deserve
Donna's Background
Donna was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago, in the Portage Park neighborhood. She began playing piano and writing songs at the age of 5 and guitar at the age of 10. In high school, she wrote an original song, “Mid-Term Blues,” that she arranged for her high school jazz band and performed at her high school variety show. She also played lead guitar in an all-girls band, No Men Momentum. Donna received a music scholarship from her high school and studied voice, jazz guitar and, later, classical guitar in college.
Musical Influences
Donna was inspired to learn slide guitar after attending a live performance by electric blues resonator player, Eric Sardinas, and upon hearing the song, “Death Letter Blues,” by Son House. She has been inspired by other slide guitarists including Rory Block, Johnny Winter, Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Booker White, Furry Lewis, RL Burnside, Elmore James, Robert Nighthawk, Honeyboy Edwards, Tamp Red, and Johnny Shines.
Donna was also influenced by women blues singers and guitar players, such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Sippie Wallace, Memphis Minnie, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Bonnie Raitt, and two of her teachers, Maria Muldaur and Rory Block. She also drew inspiration from the songwriting of Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams, and Willie Nelson.
Eric Sardinas
Rory Block
Johnny Winter
Chicago Blues Hall of Fame
Donna was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame on October 16, 2016 at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago.
Donna has been a regular performer at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago since 2012 and has opened for Buddy Guy numerous times, including for his January residencies. She said that she has fun playing at Legends as well as watching other artists perform there, and has appreciated the support and warmth she has received over the years from the Buddy Guy Legend’s family.
Blues Challenge Competition
Donna was the co-winner of the Chicago Blues Challenge, solo/duo category two years in a row; in 2010 with harpist John Jochem and in 2011 with blues singer/songwriter, Liz Mandeville. She competed at the 2011 and 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis as a semi-finalist and had a great experience there. Donna also won the 2008 Illinois Central Blues Clubs blues challenge as a solo performer and competed at the 2009 IBCs, where she met the producer (Jon Shain) and sound engineer (FJ Ventre) of her 2021 release, Bang at the Door.
In 2012, Donna was a semifinalist in the Yamaha Six String Theory international guitar competition. She placed in the top 6 of the blues guitarist category among contestants from 58 countries.
