Born in Ann Arbor Michigan on May 25th 1946, Don developed a fascination and love for music an early age. His first instrument was a Silvertone Hawaiian steel guitar, purchased for him by his parents. Soon after he began to study the Steel guitar his attention turned toward Rock and Roll. He convinced his parents to purchase a true rock and roll guitar (a Gibson Les Paul Jr.) and he was on his way.
In 1964 he was asked to join a newly formed group called the Iguanas. The drummer for the group was Jim Osterberg, better known as Iggy Pop. Jim McLaughlin played rhythm guitar, Sam Swisher on sax, Nick Kolokithas lead guitar and Don on Bass. They quickly gained a large following locally and became minor celebrities in the Midwest by performing at high school and university dances, frat parties, and teen clubs. During the summer of 1964 the group was hired as the house band for the Club Ponytail in Harbor Springs Michigan. Performing every night they shared the stage with national acts such as the Kingsmen, The Guess Who,The Sharngri-Las, Bobby Goldsboro, The Four Tops, The Reflections, and Ted Nugent. In some cases the group learned the music in the afternoon and were the back-up band for the singers that night.
The group experienced personnel changes when Jim Osterberg made the decision to drum for an up and coming blues band, the Prime Movers and Sam Swisher left to follow a career in business. Osterberg was replaced with another Ann Arbor drummer, Tom Ralson. With the new line up the Iguanas set out on their East Coast Tour playing shows in New York city, Boston, and the Cape Cod area. It was on this tour that the Iguanas expanded the group by adding Robin McNamara to the mix as their lead vocal. Robin went on to perform the lead role in the New York Production of Hair. His single “Lay a Little Lovin’ on me”, reached number 11 on the billboard charts.
Don presently is continuing his career as a composer working closely with old band mate Robin McNamara and Grammy award winner Ivan Kral.