Biography
ALDO was born on July 5, 1967 in the “City of Brotherly Love” - Philadelphia, PA. He is the second of two boys from parents Alfred and Irene Donato (both of Italian descent). His birth name is actually Alfred but he prefers the nickname “ALDO” which he received in college. The name “ALDO” represents the first two letters of his first and last name. ALDO has lived the majority of his life in the Delaware and Chester County areas of Pennsylvania, in the United States.
Music has always fascinated ALDO since he was a small child. Although his brother and parents do not play any musical instruments, the family tree on both sides has a full legacy of musicianship. His grandfather, Alfred A. Donato, influenced him earliest on. He came from a large musical family of six brothers and six sisters, most of whom knew how to sing and play musical instruments. As a child, ALDO would always watch and listen to his grandfather in amazement when he would play one of his instruments, his favorites being the piano and organ.
ALDO began learning how to play the guitar when he was eleven years old. His grandfather purchased him an acoustic guitar and his mother paid for weekly guitar lessons. ALDO's teacher had to stop giving lessons after only six months because his band went out on tour. ALDO continued learning on his own for years just playing by ear and not concentrating on the theory behind music. He eventually developed his own style, and by high school, he started playing in bands, writing and recording original music, and began incorporating keyboards.
It was after graduating high school that ALDO decided to focus his attention on learning the theory of music. He applied and auditioned for the Classical Guitar program directed under professor Glenn Lyons at the University of West Chester. He could not read music at the time nor did he have any other formal classical guitar education, ALDO did have a good ear and a creative mind for music. He was selected based on his physical ability to play the guitar and piano. ALDO had to work extra hard to improve his music reading skills in a very short span of time to get them to the level needed for performing classical guitar pieces. He learned music theory and how it applied to the style of the great classical composers. ALDO studied classical guitar technique under Glenn Lyons until he graduated college. He really credits Glenn for opening up a whole new playing style and greatly improving his guitar technique.
ALDO continued playing in both cover and original bands after graduating college until deciding to focus his efforts on recording his own flavor of original instrumental music. He classifies his musical style as "Contemporary Classical Guitar". It’s a light and mellow blend of acoustic and nylon strings guitars accompanied by some slow grooves, textures, and natural sounds aimed at relaxing his listeners.
ALDO's first creation "Close To You" released in 2003 continues to receive 5 stars ratings, the song "Silent Star" received US national radio play on the syndicated radio program "Echoes", the music from "Close To You" continues to receive air play on a variety of Internet radio stations, International satellite radio, and public radio stations within the US and abroad. Three songs from “Close To You” (“The Dance”, “Holding You Soul”, “Angelina”) are featured on Medhi’s 2005 release called “Passion”, Volume 1 by Soothing Music Inc., Three songs from “Close To You” (“Close To You”, “Endless Tide”, “The Dance”) are featured on Coldwater Creek’s The SPA 2008 release called “vitalize”.
ALDO is currently working on his follow up CD entitled “Together Again”.
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