When I first met the Full Tilt! Band with Donna Spitzer, the petite, blond band leader, they impressed me with their elegant look. Since then I have listened to the band several times, and know that it is one of the well-known and respected bands in the Bay Area. Once I enjoyed them at a summer street fair in San Rafael along with many passersby who stopped to watch and listen to their professional entertainment.

Donna, a former school teacher, used to perform with a choir, and in theaters and cabaret shows as a singer and actor until 1988 when she started her own band. Most band members have worked with her ever since. Besides Donna, the female vocalist, the male band members cover many styles of male lead vocals. Together they play nine instruments giving them even more versatility and a strong horn section. The band’s drummer has a background in New Orleans-style and Afro-Haitian music.

She is very proud of her band, whose members have also performed with such famous artists as Van Morrison, Jerry Garcia, James Brown, and Celine Dion. The band plays in clubs and for public events. Their main business, however, is performing for private and corporate functions. The carefully designed repertoire covers music for all generations: Classic Rock, the current Top 40 Hits, Motown, Country Western, and a tasteful selection of Standard, Swing Classics and Jazz. They also can play elegant music for wedding ceremonies: vocal, piano, flute or classical guitar. Maybe it is due to Donna’s Jewish background that the band plays the hora so well. "The best hora I have heard," commented a photographer at a recent wedding.

Donna emphasizes customer service. She will send out a song list, a demo CD, meet the client in person or consult over the phone. The band will learn special songs, charging for this only if the requests are numerous.