Special Tribute to Don LaFontaine

This year’s THAT’S VOICEOVER! will include a special tribute to Don LaFontaine, presented by his wife Nita Whitaker-LaFontaine. Nita has been a champion of Don’s legacy, sheparding the creation of the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab for SAG and overseeing the establishment of the Don LaFontaine Legacy Award which is going into it’s 4th year at Promax/BDA.

And Nita is an extraordinary talent in her own right. “She’s the real voice in the family.” Don was fond of saying. Talent is the thing. If that were all there was, then Nita Whitaker would be singing for the kings and queens because her talent defies description. Richly trained with essences of soul, sprinkled with pop, jazz and gospel flavoring it is difficult to put Nita into one category. Having done stage, big and small screen, her expansive talent and humor continues to find new avenues to be expressed. Addding producer to her list of credits, Nita recently produced a short run of the play Dog sees God. Having recorded three independent CD’s Nita has plans to co-produce and record a new CD later in the year of her favorite standards.

This former Miss Louisiana, and Hall of Fame Star Search Grand Champion is comfortable singing in any setting, from an intimate club to the arena stages, as well as stage, television and movies. She has been the guest performer at The Freedom Awards honoring Oprah Winfrey, Ruby Dee and Paul Rusesabagnia, sang duets with Andrea Bocelli during his 2006 Winter Tour, and also has performed with Josh Groban, Michael Buble’ and Chris Botti. Having David Foster as one of her mentors, she has performed and shared the stage with countless celebrities including Barbara Streisand, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Richard Marx, Stevie Wonder and Yolanda Adams. A work still unwritten, Nita continues to hone her writing skills as well as other creative ventures. The best is yet to come.