DONAL "DON" LEACE

The Gentle Giant!

The man made several cultural and intellectual impressions on me as a student attending Duke Ellington School Of The Arts. He was both my Harlem Renaissance and Public Speaking teacher. He cared about our well-being and kept our senses astute with the information he supplied and standards he exemplified. Rest in peace Mr. Leace, you live on.

I was thinking about Don today and wondered what happened to him. I met him at Patches 15 Below in 1968. Any time he was booked there, I looked forward to hearing him play. In the late 1990's, he came to the recording studio that my husband, Jeff Order, and I owned in Baltimore. It was so good to see him after 30 years. I wish I had been able to stay in touch. I'm sure he is missed by many. Dear soul and amazing talent. RIP my friend.

Met Donal in 1963. We became life long friends. There was always a room and a meal if i needed it. I was thrilled when he learned my song You Give Yourself Away We stayed in contact our whole lives. Me in California and him in DC. I kept trying to get him to come out but it never worked out. Miss him. Loved our friendship.

Mr.Leace was my Harlem Renaissance and Theater History teacher at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He will forever have a lasting impact on my life. Thank you and your spirit lives on!

I was blessed to see Donal at Patches 15 Below coffee house in Timonium Maryland back in 1967. He had a record out which I bought for the girl I was seeing. I taped it and attempted to play a few of his songs, "I Told Jesus" and "He was a Friend of Mine". I´m so very sorry to learn of his passing. He was a force for the good.

When I heard Donal at the Cellar Door in 1973, I was mesmerized. I wanted to buy the record he was selling, but didn't have the $ on my congressional intern salary. So sorry to hear about his passing. I was lucky to hear him.

Great friend and great spirit. We met when we were 18 in the village and stayed friends all these years. He was an important part of my life. So sad that he is gone.

Donal was a kind and gentle friend and neighbor of for many years here in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Washington DC. He is missed.