Over the past 15 years Donald Hayes has become one of the most sought-after musicians and arrangers.  Hayes’ music has been featured on countless recordings he is widely considered the best saxophonist in the country.  Gospel legends including Fred Hammond, John P. Kee and the late Rev. James Moore have said that Hayes is the best saxophonist in music.

Hayes has worked with artists including; Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee, Detrick Haddon, Rev. James Moore, West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, Beverly Crawford, Dorinda Clark Cole, Joe Pace & the Colorado Mass Choir, Darryl Coley, Judith Christie McAllister, Norman Hutchins and CeCe Winans.

In 2000 Hayes’ was the music director for Dave Talbert’s popular gospel play of “His Woman, His Wife”.  That experience was the catalyst for Hayes to pursue his ultimate goal of composing for film and television by enrolling in UCLA’s Film Scoring program.

In 2001, Harborwood Records approached Hayes and asked him to record an instrumental gospel record.  Hayes agreed and the partnership resulted in two successful projects.  Quiet Times, recorded in 2001 was nominated for a Stellar Award, and in the following year, the second album, Reflections, was nominated for a Dove Award.

This past few years, Hayes was an arranger on a few hit gospel projects – Detrick Haddon, West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir, and Beverly Crawford.  Crawford’s “He’s Done Enough” was nominated for Song of the Year at last year’s Stellar Awards.

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, Jessica Simpson, James Brown, Jamie Foxx, Black Eye Peas, Dave Hollister, Tank, Chaka Kahn, Wayman Tisdale and Queen Latifah.

Hayes’ repertoire of mastered instruments includes the woodwind family, piano, bass and drums.  Hayes can also write and conduct for orchestras and in 2007 he scored two feature films.