The late Frank Mantooth described Donna as "...a divine voice,sophisticated elegance...great to work with...wonderful to know..."
Donna Tucker has been blessed with not only a vibrant voice, but also a musical style and enchanting presence both on and off the stage making her an unforgettable talent. Although Donna is a native of Kansas, she began her career in Dallas, Texas as a jazz singer/pianist/ as well as working as a TV commercial actor, voice over narrator, and recording jingles. While working in Dallas, Donna became a highly visible talent and spokesperson for the Southland Corporation, otherwise known as 7-11 and traveled the United States and Canada performing in concerts as well as narrating new 7-11 products.
ARTHUR'S, a well known jazz club in Dallas, was home to Donna and her trio...including Pat Coil, well known jazz pianist and composer; Dan Grogan, bass, and Tim Grogan, drums. "Home" meant 11 years, 5 nights a week. During those years in Dallas, Donna performed with the North Texas State University One O'Clock Lab Band, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, and Woody Herman's band. Over a period of 6 years, Donna appeared on numerous nationally recognized telethons, i.e. Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, National March of Dimes, again, as a performer, representing the Southland Corporation as well as an opening act for Joan Rivers.
The BIG BAND sound became an important part of Tucker's work as she began performing/ producing concerts that again included North Texas State One O'Clock Lab Band members, with Lou Fischer, bass player, arranger, and conductor.... also Neil Slater, director of jazz studies at North Texas was on board as Donna's pianist with the concert series. Today, Tucker still performs with big bands around the country and her library of big band music is remarkable since most of it was arranged by the best that the North Texas State University jazz department had to offer!
In 1999, Donna began a long running contract with the Westin Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan. She spends several months a year there performing 6 nights a week in the penthouse club, Compass Rose. Through out the years, she has truly created a following from "around the world". Guests of the hotel call ahead to book their travel plans with one question being..."Will Donna Tucker happen to be there during our stay?" No other entertainer in the 10 years history of the hotel has been contracted as many times as Donna Tucker.
Jazz studies has become an important component in Donna's innate creativity. After moving back to Kansas...to be near family, Tucker was hired by Friends University as an artist-in residence to develop a vocal jazz ensemble. The success was overwhelming and well-known vocal jazz ensembles, including NEW YORK VOICES, praised the work of the students and gave credit to their director for having guided the students with great professional ease. One of Donna's passions is to give to students what she has collected over the years as a singer and musician. "I truly believe that a student of jazz, whether it be instrumental or vocal.... cannot learn unless they are exposed to those professionals out there 'doing it'! The same is with the choral directors who are so frustrated as to the process of stylizing vocal jazz. The concept is a different "listening" and too many vocal music education majors are not exposed to vocal jazz studies. That's the area I have so much reward in coaching. Throughout the year, I have calls from choral directors who I have met during summer camps. As a clinician, I emphasize to the teachers how important it is for they themselves to become a"listener" of jazz BEFORE they begin teaching the students."
"Life has been very good to me...wonderful family...good health.... and an array of friends from around the world that have encouraged me to continue on my path. I hope you, as a reader, enjoy this website and pass it along to your friends. In the spring/summer, the new CD will come out.... go to "MUSIC" and I'll tell you about it! Success comes in many different forms.... thank you for being an embracing and grateful audience...that, to me, is a great compliment.... and....success."
Kansas City has become a second home for Tucker. Be sure to look for her at Jardine's...as well as the Blue Room in the Jazz District. You can find her with a big band as well as a trio....she's enchanting.
Something's Gotta Give
Donna Tucker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Meets an old immovable object like me
You can bet just as sure as you live
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Warms an old implacable heart such as mine
Don't say no because I insist
Somewhere, somehow
Someone's gotta be kissed
So, en garde, who knows what the fates might have in store
From their vast mysterious sky
I'll try hard ignorin' those lips that I adore
But how long can anyone try?
Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight it with all of our might
Chances are some heavenly star-spangled night
We'll find out just as sure as we live
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Fight, fight, fight it with all of your might
Chances are that some heavenly star-spangled night
We'll find out just as sure as we live
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Aw, let's tear it up
The lyrics of Donna Tucker's song "Something's Gotta Give" speaks of the inevitable moment when two opposing forces meet - an irresistible force and an old, immovable object. The lyrics suggest that when this happens, something has got to give, and that a change must occur. The song then goes on to describe how when an irrepressible smile warms an old, implacable heart, someone has got to be kissed. The singer then grapples with the futility of trying to resist these forces, acknowledging that eventually, something's got to give.
The lyrics are at once both hopeful and melancholic, acknowledging the inevitability of change while still holding on to the possibility that things might turn out for the better. The singer is presented as someone who understands the complexity of the situation and is willing to fight for what they want, even if it means going against fate.
Overall, "Something's Gotta Give" is a poignant and insightful ballad that explores the theme of change and how it affects us. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has been faced with a situation where a change might be necessary but also painful.
Line by Line Meaning
When an irresistible force such as you
When I come across someone like you who is so attractive that it's almost impossible to resist.
Meets an old immovable object like me
When I collide with someone like me who is stuck in their ways and immovable in their beliefs.
You can bet just as sure as you live
It's a foregone conclusion that something's gotta give.
Something's gotta give
The inevitable outcome of our encounter is that something will have to change.
When an irrepressible smile such as yours
When your smile is so contagious that I can't help but feel happy and buoyant around you.
Warms an old implacable heart such as mine
When I open up to you despite my cold and unfeeling nature.
Don't say no because I insist
I urge you not to reject me just yet.
Somewhere, somehow
There has to be a way.
Someone's gotta be kissed
At some point, we have to take the plunge and kiss each other.
So, en garde, who knows what the fates might have in store
Let's prepare ourselves for any eventuality, the future is unpredictable.
From their vast mysterious sky
Whatever happens next is in the hands of the universe.
I'll try hard ignorin' those lips that I adore
I'll attempt to resist kissing you even though I really want to.
But how long can anyone try?
It's challenging to suppress our intense mutual attraction for too long.
Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight it with all of our might
We need to put up a good fight and resist the temptation with all of our strength.
Chances are some heavenly star-spangled night
Maybe one day, under the stars, we'll get to finally be together.
We'll find out just as sure as we live
We'll know what will happen eventually, as long as we keep living.
Something's gotta give
We can't keep living in this limbo forever, a decision has to be made.
Aw, let's tear it up
Let's live our best lives and do what we really want to do, without inhibitions.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind