Originally hailing from Michigan, Don grew up listening to some up the greatest music from the 60’s and 70’s. Don was influenced by all the talent form the Detroit area.

It all started when Don’s older cousin snuck him in to the upper tier of Cobo Hall to catch  the last 20 minutes of the Jimi Hendrix concert on November 30th, 1968. Don was only 7 years old and only remembers a vague image of a lot of noise and lights. But, from that moment on, Don wanted to play guitar!

In 1971, Don’s family moved to Brighton (MI), just north of Ann Arbor. David TeeGarden, the drummer’s for Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band lived just a block away. All the kids in the neighborhood used listen to the band practice out of an old rickety garage. Don even got to watch Mark Farner play acoustic guitar at a 100 keg party (only 3000 people showed up). 

Don finally got his first guitar at the age of 15. By then Don was in to bands such as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Rush, Led Zeppelin, and Ted Nugent. At the age of 16 Don took guitar lessons from Mike Lutz, best known for his work with Brownsville Station at Al Nalli’s Music Store/Studio. Don continued playing guitar in various bands until the age of 23. Then he hung up his axe for almost 10 year to work on his career and family.

Don moved to Kansas at the end of 1991. Don still had 1 left over guitar. He went to a pawn shop, bought an a amp and started all over again! Don has performed with or opened for Bands or Artists such as Michael Lee Firkins, The Turtles, .38 Special, Molly Hatchet, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. From 1996 to 1999 Don played lead guitar for Gee Wally. From 2001 to 2008 He played guitar for Klatch. Then Lobster Adoption, and for a year and a half with the progressive rock band F5 where in 2011 we got to open for Eddie Money on the main stage of the Wichita Riverfest. Today Don is back home with Klatch!!