Donnie grew up in Salt Lick, a small town in Eastern Kentucky.  Surrounded by a musical family, Donnie learned several instruments at an early age.  By age thirteen he and what would be his best friends for life, created a band that performed at many local events.  Through his music career he preformed or opened shows with such artist as; Willie Nelson, Cheap Trick, REO Speed Wagon, Freddie Fender, Michael Martin Murphy, Steppen Wolf and many more.  In 1992 Donnie was voted “Instrumentalist & Vocalist of the Year” through the South Dakota Music Association, also, he won the opportunity to record in Nashville.     

Donnie has passionately played and studied music of all genres.  He found music to be a universal language, it heals the broken heart; it sooths the soul.  On this spiritual journey, music has been a wonderful teacher.  Through his diligence and determination, not to mention many countless hours of playing, Donnie is considered by his peers, a guitar master and adored by his followers.