Jim Donna

James Joseph Donna (born January 9, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and author. He is the band leader for the Minnesota garage rock band The Castaways and the only original member still in the band.[1]

Not to be confused with Jim Donnan.
Jim Donna
Born
James Joseph Donna

(1945-01-09) January 9, 1945
Minneapolis, Minnesota
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Minnesota
Occupations
  • Musician
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • Keyboardist
  • Author
Years active1963–1966 1970s-present
WorksThe Castaways
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Keyboards
LabelsSoma
Websitehttps://www.thecastawaysrock.com/

Their only hit single is Liar Liar, which he wrote on a napkin[2] with the band's drummer Dennis Craswell March 1965.[3] [4]

Biography

Jim Donna was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 9, 1945. His father was a musician. When Donna was a child his father signed him up for piano lessons.[5]

When Donna was seventeen, he met singer Jerry Lee Lewis at Excelsior's Danceland Ballroom. Lewis taught him how to play the song Great Balls of Fire on piano. Donna joined The Castaways in 1963, which was a small cover band at first, playing small shows. Jim Donna was on Keyboards and bought his first keyboard a Wurlitzer electric piano.[6]

In 1965 in his parents' house, he wrote the hit single, "Liar, Liar". Drummer Dennis Craswell and his sister Joanne helped him write it. It reached number 12 on the billboard 100 and locally went to number one. Donna left the band in 1966 to go back to college at the University of Minnesota. After that Donna started a booking agency to book bands.[6] In the 1970s Donna reformed the band.[7]

In 2005 Donna was inducted into the Minnesota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Castaways and Donna still tour to this day and play at fairs, festivals and parks.[8] [9]

In 2022, Donna wrote a book about The Castaways: Liar, Liar From Garage Band to Rockstars: the Story of Minnesota's Castaways in the 1960s.[10]

References
  1. "The Castaways". December 2, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  2. "The Castaways Turned 'Liar, Liar' into Garage Rock Gold: Interview". April 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  3. "Song: Liar Liar | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com.
  4. "Jim Donna Discography". Discogs.com.
  5. "Liar, liar, pants on fire". February 11, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  6. "Gary James' Interview With James Donna Of The Castaways". ClassicBands.com. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  7. "Jordan resident tells story of his band The Castaways and their runaway hit 'Liar, Liar'". April 28, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  8. "ABOUT the castaways | the castaways of liar, liar fame|". Mysite.
  9. "The Castaways: Reflecting on 50 years". swnewsmedia.com.
  10. Donna, James J. (2022). Liar, Liar: From Garage Band to Rockstars, the Story of Minnesota's Castaways in the 1960's. ISBN 9780578364001.
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