Over the past 35 years Donald Hayes has become one of the most sought-after musicians and arrangers. Hayes’ music has been featured on countless recordings, and he is widely considered one of the best saxophonist in the country.
Hayes’ music credits extend to almost every genre of music. Hayes has played or recorded with artists including Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Philip Bailey, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, James Brown, Jamie Foxx, Black Eye Peas, Chaka Kahn, Wayman Tisdale, Robin Thicke, Jill Scott, and Queen Latifah. Hayes Started touring with pop artist Robin Thicke 11 years ago, and now has also been touring the world for the last 5 years with bass phenom, Marcus Miller. In 2016 Hayes released his first record of oringinal music entitled, Front Ground. This record featured artist, Eric Benet, Marcus Miller, Wah Wah Watson, Mono Neon, Isaiah Sharkehy, Wayman Tisdale, Jubu Smith, Reggie B, Joonie, Bridget Bryant, and many more. Hayes has released an album in 2025 entitled Soul Searching, featuring artist such as Robin Thicke, Brian Culbertson, Nathan East, Andrea Lisa, Russell Gunn, Bobby Sparks, Shedrick Mitchell, Derrick Jackson, Adam Hawley, Kurt Fletcher, and many more. Hayes has also been the first call saxophonist for most gospel artist including Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Kim Burell, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Cee Cee Winans and the late Rev. James Moore, and many more.
Hayes’ repertoire of mastered instruments includes the woodwind family, piano, bass and drums. Hayes can also write and conduct for orchestras. He as also scored a number of feature films. Hayes believes music written and perfromed from the heart will reach the heart.