An Interview with Donald “D.R.” King


Central State University


graduate and Season 14 contestant NBC’s “The VOICE”


How has life after college been for you?


I graduated from Central State University in 2007, moved to New Orleans and began working as a schoolteacher. Then I bounced around a bit, first moving back to Cleveland, where I taught and sang at night, then to Nagoya, Japan, where I worked in a club singing six nights week with a live band, then back to Cleveland. I later ended up in New York where I’ve been for the last five years. I’ve been traveling all over the world, singing with different agencies, doing weddings and corporate events, and singing with different artists.


How did Central State prepare you for what you’re doing?


Central prepared me a lot! I sang with the chorus [the Grammy-nominated Central State University Chorus, under the direction of William Henry Caldwell] that was really good, and I minored in music, taking a lot of music classes and voice lessons. My major was communications radio, and television, so it put me behind the scenes where I got to learn how to produce and work for television. With working on The Voice last winter, I got to see firsthand all the stuff that I studied in school.


Who were some of your mentors while you were here at CSU?


Donald “DR” King


I had a lot of mentors at Central State, one being Professor William Henry Caldwell. Dr. Lovette Chinwah was


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somebody who definitely helped me out a lot—and also Professor Edwin R. Clay, may he rest in peace, he was always there for me. Ms. Bailey made sure that I did what I needed to do and somehow always knew where I needed to be! I also had a lot of peers who helped me out and we all worked together. I have so many friends from other sororities and fraternities that we all became family and helped each other through school.


From what we saw at home, when you auditioned for the coaches, what was going through your mind?


When I auditioned for the coaches, I was just hoping that someone would turn for me. You know that I got halfway through my song before someone actually did. It was nerve-racking but the show must go on. I couldn’t stop singing but thankfully Kelly Clarkson turned first, and then Blake Shelton turned so the rest is history. I was going strong with Kelly from day one until I got eliminated. That obviously was not what I wanted but I was grateful for the chance. I was just there to compete and represent my school, my state, my family, and myself.


How was it working with Kelly Clarkson?


She is an amazing spirit and coach! She’s a great artist and I was so blessed to have her as my coach.


What did your friends and family say about you being on “The Voice?”


Oh my gosh, I mostly heard that I was inspiring so many of my peers who have passion and dreams of doing things, but who kind of gave up because they’ve been stuck in regular life, having a family, and working a 9-to-5 job. You know, a lot of people said to me “because of you,


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