Don and Lesly Hale met in Ithaca, New York where they both attended the Ithaca College School of Music. Starting in 1980 they performed together in a five piece band called DAZZ, playing club dates and fraternity parties at nearby Cornell University.
The band continued to work sporadically for several years while Lesly and Don pursued other projects. Lesly was active in the Syracuse based theater group, Paul Robeson, appeared as soloist with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, and starred in a one woman show at Syracuse Stage called, “Lesly”. Don taught school and toured for a while as a trumpet player with Paul Anka.
In 1985 Lesly and Don formed the duo, “Cahlua and Cream” and began working in the northeastern U.S. They performed at hotels and clubs throughout the U.S. After their marriage in 1990, and the birth of their first son in 1992, they had the opportunity to move to Naples, Florida. They continue to entertain and delight audiences in Southwest Florida and other parts of the country.
With continued success they’ve explored other outlets for their music, including appearances on locally televised programs such as, “Lee Pitts Live”, and performances on cruise ships and other corporate venues.
Their repertoire includes a spectrum of music ranging from Broadway, Jazz, and contemporary to original selections.