Donal Richard Leace was an American musician and educator. During the 1960s at The Cellar Door in Georgetown, he performed with artists including John Denver, Nina Simone, Odetta, Judy Collins, Muddy Waters, and Emmylou Harris. Leace toured nationally with Nancy Wilson and internationally with Roberta Flack. His recordings, including "Oh! Alabama" and "The Death of Medgar Evers," captured the struggles and spirit of the Civil Rights era, and his 1962 album At The Shadows with Carol Hedin was a groundbreaking interracial folk collaboration. A dedicated educator, he chaired the Drama Department at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, mentoring students such as Dave Chappelle and Denyce Graves. Leace also appeared on television programs including The Today Show and the David Frost Show. He passed away from COVID-19 on November 21, 2020, at the age of 81.
