Donivan Bailey is a native of Kansas City, Kansas. In addition to performing with Alaadeen & Group 21, The Kansas City Symphony Chorus, leading his own groups, and working as a freelance musician, Donivan is also a composer and producer. He has performed and recorded as a drummer with many of Kansas City’s most noted musicians, like Bobby Watson, The McFadden Brothers, Delynia Brown, and Cedric Patterson. He is also an original founding member of measureXmeasure (measure by measure), the popular a cappella vocal group that began in the mid-1990′s as a student group at the University of Kansas.

Donivan’s teaching experience began in 2001 at the Toon Shop in Prairie Village. He also held the position of Drumline & Percussion Ensemble Instructor at Shawnee Mission North High School from 2004 to 2008.

Donivan is the founder and served as lead conductor of the Kansas East State orchestra. He is also on the founding charter of the Kansas City Institute for Jazz Performance and History, where he served as the head of the Percussion Studies Department.

Donivan’s first exposure to music began in his church at the age of 5. His first teachers during this prodigious youthful period were: John Cushon (the drummer for Oleta Adams) and Leon Brady (well noted Kansas City area musician and jazz educator). Donivan went on to study both vocal and instrumental music at Wyandotte High School. Derrick Hibler was instrumental in teaching him music theory and other music subjects that would prepare him for collegiate level study. He attended Tarkio College, studying under Chuck Theiss, and receiving vocal training with Gary Declue. Donivan later transferred to and graduated from Emporia State University, where he performed in numerous ensembles, and studied under Steve Gage.

Currently Donivan is working on a new Donivan Bailey CD project with ASR Records in Kansas City.