Album Notes

You’ve probably seen Don many times over the years in dozens of TV shows and films. He has played countless cops and lawyers on shows such as,"Third Watch", "Rescue Me", "The Practice", and has had recurring roles on "L.A. Law" (as the despicable attorney “Russell Spitzer”), "Get A Life" and "Law And Order". He made his Broadway debut in 2003 in the Tony Award winning play, "Take Me Out". (For a complete list of Don’s acting credits go to www.imdb.com). But way before earning his keep as a working actor, Don was playing music ever since his samoan godfather Pete Auclair taught him to play steel guitar at the age of ten. He played with Pete’s band, "The Polynesian Serenaders" till his early teens, when he formed "The Jupiters" (at the ripe old age of thirteen) and they played, “within a mile of anywhere in San Diego.” Next came "The Other Four" and a recording session in Hollywood at the legendary Gold Star Studios. The band released, "Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night" on the Decca label. Don’s always thought that while Decca’s first mistake was in not signing The Beatles, their second was in signing The Other Four.
Don’s continued to write and play music ever since and these twelve original songs reflect the new direction his life and music are taking. While his influences range from Bob Wills to John Prine, to his “polynesian swing” roots, Don’s lyrics and tunes are very distinctive and striking. Sometimes jazzy, sometimes sad, he credits his wry humor and his country-laced sound and sensibility to his dad and his Oklahoma roots. These recordings have a “live performance” quality that are mostly acoustic and the spare style ( a touch of slide or dobro here and there) puts the songs themselves front and center. Don and his wife live in the Wallkill Valley in Ulster County, New York, with Scout and Riley, the dogs in the house.