In early 1957 in a wet and fishy smelling part of Seattle called Ballard and in the back seat of a '53 Plymouth Don was just a spark in his Daddys eyes but nine months later when he was smacked on his butt he started screaming what sounded like "Great Balls of Fire" his Daddy knew what he had to do (Buy a case of ear plugs!). As soon as Don could reach the keys on the family piano his parents would set him on the bench to "keep him out of trouble" and let him "bang away for hours". While sitting at the piano he would make up songs then play them over and over for anyone who would listen, even the family pets. Don recalls as a child he can remember falling asleep as his mother would be singing the "Oscar Meyer Weiner Song" while playing the family organ downstairs. In 4th grade Don decided to take drum lessons in school and then for some reason he then decided that The Stan Boreson School of Accordion was his true calling. (http://www.stanboreson.com/history.htm ) As the years, earplugs and instruments came and went and because of his father's love of the guitar, Don, at 12 years old, decided that he should learn it as well. He had found his instrument at last! His father still remembers how "I showed him the G chord and then he just took off bending the strings." For some deep and dark and unknown reason Don also liked the sound of the banjo and started playing it in the church orchestra where he found most people told him he should stick with the guitar. Don says "I still remember the pastor and the "Tone it down!!" look he gave me out of the corner of his eye when I started to play a little too wild." Don took as many music classes as he could in Jr. and Sr. high. By playing at parties, with his musician friends, Don got his first taste of beer and what would soon become the driving force in his life. A band in Hawaii who knew Don called and asked him if he would like to come play in the clubs. He quickly bought a one-way ticket and was off to the islands. As things turned out, all five members of the band were living in a small studio apartment and owed about 6 months back rent. So after 5 long months and a few jobs flipping burgers Don had finally saved enough money to buy a ticket off the island and back home to Seattle. He started going to the open mics and bluegrass jams and in the mid 1980's Don was asked to join an original bluegrass band called "Lost in the mail" and so started his adventure as a bluegrass musician. As time went on Don met an electric fiddle player and they decided to do some jamming with a keyboard player they had met. With the addition of the stand up bass they had a very interesting combo. The music they played was a kind of jazz/grass and was well liked by the college crowd. Don was offered a paying position in a touring bluegrass band he decided to go for it. Touring Canada and the Pacific Northwest and opening shows for Ricky Skaggs, Jim and Jesse and others, Don won the "Best Guitarist Award" at the Kamloops Bluegrass & Country Music Festival. Don really enjoyed playing the Western swing music he heard at the festivals and in the mid 90's Don was asked to do a tour playing guitar for Country Music Hall of Fame Star Hank Thompson. He has since moved to Alaska and is playing 200+ gigs a year and loves it!