Class of: 1962
Deceased: 2014-12-18

Don, as he was known to all, was born and raised in Shelby, NC where most of his extended family still reside. During and after high school, Don recognized his extraordinary musical gift from God. For the next 4 years he attended Stetson University where he earned his Bachelors degree in music.

Upon completion of his studies he auditioned for and was accepted into the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC. During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations he often performed in the White House and for various government functions including the funeral of President John F. Kennedy. While in Washington, Don also completed his studies at Catholic University for his Masters Degree in Instrumental Performance.

After leaving the Navy Band, he was accepted into The New York Metropolitan Orchestra and toured the country for a year before settling in Los Angeles. In California, the young budding Maestro entered the L.A. music scene as a copiest in the Hollywood music libraries, copying instrumental parts for numerous network television shows, recordings and film scoring sessions. These included but were not limited to scores by such greats as Nelson Riddle and Frank Sinatra. During this period Don auditioned for the Bass Trombone chair in the L.A. Philharmonic and over the next 12 years performed in numerous concerts and recordings with the famed Zubin Mahta and countless other major conductors. Don’s classical career included the Glendale Symphony, The San Francisco Opera, Symphony and Ballet, The American Ballet Theater, Boishoi Ballet, Opera D’Oyly Carte and the Los Angeles Opera. Don played and recorded in various chamber music groups including the renowned “Monday Evening Concerts” formed in the 1930s. He also participated in the first United States performance of the noted composer/conductor, Pierre Boulez.

During his career Don taught low brass to students privately and served on the adjunct faculties of Claremont College, California State University (Long Beach and Dominquez Hills campuses) and Stetson University, Deland, Jazz Ensemble.

In 1973, Don and several colleagues formed the “Modern Brass Quintet” which eventually became “The Los Angeles Brass”, the most active chamber music ensemble on the West Coast. The LAB toured the United States, including Alaska, for many years to wide critical acclaim and in 1984 the group was invited by the International Brass Congress to premier a major new composition for brass and piano on the network television special “All That Brass”. Don’s jazz career was extensive, including 25 years and 11 albums with the Grammy winning “Bob Florence Big Band”. He also performed with the big bands of Shorty Rogers, Neal Hefti, Stan Kenton, Tommy Dorsey and The Mel Torme – Marty Paich Dek-Tette. He produced, arranged and recorded (with many colleagues) the “cult” recording, among trombone players, “The Hollywood Trombones” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. In television Don’s career spanned the early years of the musical variety shows such as “The Lennon Sisters” and “Sonny and Cher” to musical special including Baryshnikov on Broadway and classical specials with Burt Bacharach and Barbra Streisand.

He then shifted to film television, Movies of the Week, weekly Crime and Drama shows and even included animated features and series such as The Flintstones, The Simpsons and Family Guy. Don’s contribution to the feature film industry included hundreds of movies, many of which are the most famous and beloved films of all times. Don performed on stage on many television award shows including the Grammys, Emmys, Golden Globe, Country Music Awards and Peoples Choice Awards. His career as a coveted studio musician allowed him to record with celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, Herb Alpert, Lee Ann Rimes, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Mathis, Michael Feinstein, David Foster, Quincy Jones, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Sammy Nestico, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Sonny Rollins, Linda Ronstadt, Andy Williams, Dr. John, Lee Ann Womack, Dionne Warwick and even Frank Zappa.

In 2001 Don and his wife Lin purchased a small home in Lake Helen and 6 months later said goodbye to Hollywood and hello to beautiful, quaint small town living. Since 2002 Don has been performing with his own groups and touring artists including Johnny Mathis, The Three Tenors, Steve and Eydie and Tony Bennett and with broadway shows such as “Chicago” and “Lion King” as they travel through the Southeast.