Donna Ulisse
Donna Ulisse wins IBMA Songwriter of the Year!
October 10, 2016
Congatulations to Hadley Music recording artist and songwriter Donna Ulisse who was named the 2016 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Songwriter of the Year. It was the fifth year in a row Ulisse had been nominated and the audience jumped to their feet when her name was called. Donna has had songs recorded by Del McCoury Band (Grammy winning album), Doyle Lawson Band (Grammy nominated album), Claire Lynch Band, Larry Stephenson Band, Volume Five and many more.
Uncle Hadley Music has song on new Chris Jones CD!
August 15, 2015
Uncle Hadley Music has a song co-written by staff writer Donna Ulisse and Chris Jones on the new Mountain Home Music release by Chris Jones & The Night Drivers. The album is titled Run Away Tonight and the song is “My Portion and My Cup”.
Whether it’s in the studio or on stage, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers are making some of the most distinctively elegant yet driving music to be heard anywhere today, and they’re delivering it with a unique blend of dry wit, emotional authenticity and broad humor that’s won the loyalty of a growing number of fans across the country, from Merlefest in North Carolina to California’s Huck Finn Jubilee, and around the world. Steve Martin referred to the Night Drivers as “. . . some of the best players in bluegrass! Chris Jones’ voice is there with the great masters.” Americana artist Jim Lauderdale said of Chris, “He continues to have one of the most distinctive and best voices in music, period.”
Posted in Donna Ulisse | 
Tags: Americana, bluegrass, Chris Jones, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Donna Ulisse, Jim Lauderdale, Merlesfest, Steve Martin
First single ships from upcoming Donna Ulisse album
August 12, 2015
“It Could Have Been The Mandolin” is the first single to ship to radio from the upcoming release by Donna Ulisse, Hard Cry Moon. The song is a co-write by Plisse and frequent co-writer Jerry Salley.
Donna did a spoof video to promote the single by interviewing many key bluegrass artists. After banjo player Greg Davis is knocked down by a mysterious overstrung force the big question is “What could it have been?” Breaking news from The Bluegrass News Network with Donna Ulisse reporting and commentary from Russell Moore, Audie Blaylock, David Adkins, Edgar Loudermilk, Sammy Shelor, Larry Cordle, Joe Mullins,Larry Stephenson, Roland White, Rebekah Long as well as all of her band The Poor Mountain Boys, Jon Martin, Rick Stanley, Bill Baldock and Greg Davis. See the video below:
Ulisse releases companion CD to her book
March 24, 2015
Hadley Music Group has released a companion CD to the book The Songwriter in Me: Snapshots of My Creative Process written by singer songwriter Donna Ulisse. The CD is titled The Songwriter in Me: The Demo Recordings and includes all twenty-four songs that are featured in the book as lyrics.
As soon as the book was completed, Donna approached Kathy Anderson at HMG with the vision of a companion CD offering readers of the book the opportunity to also listen to the songs as they were reading the lyrics along with the notes Ulisse has in the book regarding the meter of each song, how the melody works with the lyric and rhyming patterns. It was also her vision to present the songs in much more sparse arrangements than her other recordings to show the listeners how she often hears her songs when she writes them and also how she records them to present to her publisher as a representation to pitch to other artists, inspiring “The Demo Recordings” as part of the title. All of the songs are recorded with just acoustic guitar tracks and and on occasion an additional mandolin, fiddle and vocal harmony. Musicians on the CD are Bryan Sutton, Kenny Smith, Glen Duncan and Tony King. Ulisse’s husband and co-writer on many of the songs, Rick Stanley, sings harmonies on multiple tracks and also sang lead on the song “The Man That I Am” which Ulisse felt was a bit more believable than singing it herself.
The album includes some of Donna Ulisse’s most popular songs such as “Let it Rain”, “Showin’ My Roots”, and “I Am A Child of God” as well as many songs that have yet to be heard. However, even the familiar songs will sound fresh to those familiar with the original releases when they hear them in this stripped down setting.
Posted in Donna Ulisse | Tags: Bryan Sutton, Demo, Donna Ulisse, Glen Duncan, Kenny Smith, Rick Stanley, songwriter, Tony King
Donna Ulisse to head back into studio with producer Bryan Sutton
February 1, 2015
Singer songwriter Donna Ulisse and guitar virtuoso Bryan Sutton are preparing to team up for their second studio effort on the Hadley Music Group label. The album will be Ulisse’s eighth release on the label.
Uncle Hadley Music adds more bluegrass cuts to catalog
January 20, 2015
The Larry Stephenson Band recently included “Come To Jesus Moment” on their bluegrass gospel release Pull Your Savior In. The album has received very favorable reviews and is getting heavy airplay on bluegrass and gospel stations.
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver also included the song “Wilma Walker” on their current release In Session.
Both songs are written by Uncle Hadley Music writer Donna Ulisse and her husband and frequent co-writer Rick Stanley.
Donna has busiest year ever at IBMA conference in Raleigh!
October 10, 2014
Donna being interviewed by Bluegrass Today’s David Morris.
Each year in late September, the International Bluegrass Music Association hosts an annual conference ending with the annual awards show. The event has been held in Raleigh, NC for the past two year. Donna was there in full force as an official showcase artist but she also did many other things.
Bluegrass Today’s David Morris interviewed her about her book on songwriting. You can watch the video here.
Donna and her band The Poor Mountain Boys also did a master class at a local middle school. Enjoy a short video clip of them teaching here.
On Friday evening, Donna and The Poor Mountain Boys were part of the IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass StreetFest, doing a show on a street stage in downtown Raleigh to a large and enthusiastic crowd.
There was also an interview with the local ABC affiliate about women in bluegrass as well as a songwriting workshop with several other bluegrass songwriters. Ulisse also had a booth all week in the exhibit hall where she took time to meet and greet folks.
Congratulations to Donna Ulisse for IBMA nominations!
August 20, 2014
Hadley Music Group is proud to congratulate Donna Ulisse for her nominations at the IBMA awards for 2014.
For the third year in a row, she is nominated for Songwriter of the Year along with Becky Buller, Jerry Salley, Tim Stafford, and Mark “Brink” Brinkman.
Her recording of “Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus” is also nominated as Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year.
The awards will be held in Raleigh, NC in late September.
Posted in Donna Ulisse | Tags: Becky Buller, Donna Ulisse, gospel, IBMA, Jerry Salley, Mark Brinkman, Songwriter of the Year, Tim Stafford
Donna Ulisse plays WSM-Durango stage again at CMA Music Fest
June 20, 2014
Donna on the WSM-Durango stage waiting to be introduced
For the fifth year in a row, Ulisse was invited to perform in the Nashville Convention Center at the annual CMA Music Fest. Her performance was on the popular WSM-Durango stage to a great crowd. The performance was also broadcast live on WSM 650-AM and streamed live globally by the station.
Her show featured many of the tunes on the “Showin’ My Roots” album.
After her performance, her fans waited patiently for a meet and greet, photos and autographs.
Ulisse writes first book for Hadley Music Group
April 5, 2014
Donna Ulisse recently completed her first book for Hadley Music Group titled The Songwriter in Me: Snapshots of My Creative Process.