Dorothy Donegan, born April 6, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois, was an American jazz pianist. She began studying piano at age six with Alfred N. Simms and later studied under Walter Dyett at DuSable High School. In 1942, Donegan made her recording debut and gained early recognition for her performances in Chicago nightclubs. Her self-titled debut was released in 1955. She appeared in the musical film Sensations of 1945 with Cab Calloway and W.C. Fields. In 1983, she performed at a memorial service for Earl Hines alongside notable jazz musicians. Donegan was awarded an "American Jazz Master" fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1992 and an honorary doctorate from Roosevelt University in 1994. She passed away on May 19, 1998, in Los Angeles, California.
