Genres: Acoustic / Americana Music / Folk
Location: Kannapolis, NC, USA
Been married for 35 years have 1 daughter and 2 grand children. Live in an area around Charlotte NC which is very rich with musical talent. Born in Baltimore, served in the USAF. Playing in bands off and on over 30yrs.
Retired RN after 35yrs working ICU,ER and Jails, Will always be thankful for my wife who seen me struggling with a profession that had once been a service, then change to a business. I loved taking care of the patients, but could not provide substandard care and sleep at night. So my wife encouraged me to get more involved in songwriting.
Played in a lot of Rock, Country and garage bands in my younger years, Okay in Baltimore it was, CB Band, Ingedient 4, then in WV Rice machine, Jimi Coin, Jimmy Fernadez Band, Judi and the Pony Express, then in Charleston SC a Rooty toot Boggie Band and about 20 other I can't recall. I I was a member of a duo HC Troubadour. But since my partner Mark (STRAW) Jeffers has passed on to the Lords kingdom. I will always miss him . My first CD "Straight from the Glass" was a dedication and celebration of his life and music.
As a child Don's start into songwriting was just a few words and humming a tune. It was not until he turned 14 that he discovered that his brother's Gibson was much cooler than his clarinet that he played in school. In those days the young girls seemed to go for the guitar players more than the clarinet guys. Don recalls his first song being inspired by a tragedy (a stray dog injured on a busy street in Baltimore). So from the jump, Don already was into the darker and more edgy side of writing. In away was a hippy from his infancy with him and his mother marching in the groups while he was in his "blue baby stroller with whitewalls" as his mother marched against racial segregation in the local school districts. Since these beginnings, Don has always been a fighter for the less fortunate. He has always tried to share some social content in most of his writings. As a young aspiring artist in Baltimore, Don always believed that he was blessed to not only live in a city that was so rich in talent, but to also have the opportunity to steal licks and pay his dues while observing some of Baltimore finest guitarists. He remembers Wayne Carlisle of the Detrichs, along with guitarist Larry Vogel whom Don, to this day, feels ever so thankful for Larry taking time out of his busy days to sit down and encourage and teach him techniques and some theory. After Don completed his obligation with USAF, he then stayed in Charleston, SC where he was lead guitarist for a short-lived, but successful run with the Rooty Toot Bogie Band. Don still admires the styles and music of what he refers to as the Texas Troubadours, the likes of the great, late Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Guy Clark, David Olney and, of course, Steve Earle. Don spent two hours with Steve Earle on a trip from Charlotte to the Merle Fest, but can string the tale to four hours. Don has had one tune picked up by a well known star a three time Dove Award winner, who then turned the tune over to Tom l for a two-year single song contract. . Don's last CD project "Above The Fire," is a collaborative effort produced and engineered by ex-NYC Punker Leroy Lewis of the band TrainWrecker. Several members of the local music community shared their talents on this project. The CD was recorded at TrainWrecker Studios, Lake Norman, NC and is available through TuneCore Digital.
When asked to comment on his music, he says - "I do hope that my tunes stimulate thought even if you totally disagree with what I have to say. If I can stimulate thought - then these projects have found success and I certainly appreciate the privilege of sharing my tunes with you".
Transcript from a Interview with Don Heath
..I would say I am a songwriter-singer. My desire is not as a performer but more as a writer, however when you like to write and nobody does your tunes you got to do them yourself. My tunes" Ballads of Life and Dreams "some from my own observation and then some from my imagination. I have been told it's AMERICANA and FOLK. I have just completed my 1st CD On my CD I have the pleasure of being produced and having Tom Eure provide all the string instrumentation and also a little keyboard along with the harmonica of Tex Santos and the back-up vocals of Marie Powell.
I started out many years ago playing guitar in Baltimore MD for several garages bands such as the Sea Bees, Citizens Band and about 5 more I can't recall These bands played the youth centers and school functions. I had the opportunity to hang out and steal licks from some of the best Baltimore guitarist around. Which included Wayne and the Detrichs and I will be forever grateful to Larry Vogel who took time out of his busy life to share and encourage me to continue playing thie guitar when I was so far behind the others. But to my old friends" Hey I am still around" After a short term as a biker with a few crazy clubs in B.More I after feeling my draft number was coming up. Went into the USAF did my time and then got out played in a few bands in Charleston SC,' Rooty TooT Bogie band" playing some of the old clubs, doing the southern rock stuff. Then moved to WV where I was introduced to country and country rock music, played lead for several bands throughout WV, the Rice Machine revival with Dave Hughes, Jimmi Coin Band, Jim Fernandez Band, Rebel Yelled. and Judy and the Pony Express then moved to NC where I live now. I got too involved with my other career. So music was put on hold for several years. Never got back into the band gig but have had the pleasure of about a 6yr off and on duo H.C Troubadours which was myself and a fantastic Harp player, singer, performer and also a comedian, Mark " Straw" Jeffers. Who just went to sleep one Easter and never woke up. I will always think and remember Straw. Straight From The Glass my CD, is a tribute to Straw. We always taled about going to make a CD together but never got to it. Now I mostly do open mics and on occasions play with Tex Santos. I have in a joking matter been title the "Matriarch "of open mics, but actually I am more of the "Martyr" of open mics. I will say that in all my travels I have never seen the level of songwriters I listen to in Charlotte area any where else. I only have one CD project. "Straight from The Glass" as far as music on the net, I have a few on Songramp and Folkalley and I was once featured on a New York radio station for a comedy tune I wrote. This show was a creation of Brett Eidman, a really creative comedy writer. Who has a CD "What's so F@ Funny" Catch his gig if he is ever in your area My typical set is just the tunes from my CD I don't do many covers, once in awhile. So I look for the gigs where originals are welcomed...
Why this name?
I want to try to keep this as a site for more of my songs of social issues. So I have used my Granddads last name since I thought of him as a kind of folk hero in his own ways and the tales he shared with me and his position to always help the "Under dogs" He was a good business man but he was also the only land lord I knew who ended up giving the rent back to the folks who were down on their luck. Always was more of a giver than a taker. Always liberal in his views and in my mind a man of wisdom with great insight on the future. I feel blessed to had have his presence…
Do you play live?
Not as much as I would like to, I prefer coffee shops that allow the more liberal views which is the side I always seem to take. Special moments? To numerous to count, but more recent one would have to be the Big Lick Bluegrass Show in NC. I got to meet Little Roy Lewis and Lizzy Long and the band, who have recorded one of my Gospel tunes and actually used it as their Title track of their CD. Also I am now working with David Childers a real Singer/Songwriter Icon who is working the vocals on the next pending CD along with Leroy T Lewis/TrainWrecker Studio who I worked with on last CD "Above The Fire". It was such a fun project with so many local musicians ,Chas andTex Santos from The Orsons, Mike Alieck of the Eskimos,L.T Lewis/Guitar along with the Hack Brothers,and the late Scrod Porter.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
It allows folks like me to live out the dreams and desires to share tunes to folks all over the world
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
Yes-It's all; a part of the dream.......
Your influences?
Wow- Ventures,Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Beatles, Doors, Cream,Webb Wilder,STEVE EARLE, Guy Clark,Jim lauderdale, Gram Parsons, and so many folks most have never heard of.
Favorite spot?
Born in Baltimore by chance live in NC by choice.
Anything else...?
I am now retired from my career as a RN,and thank my wife for allowing me to press on towards my dreams even at my age. I am also active with Song U and enjoy the education and support they provide. New servant to a Toy fox Terrier puppy.
Equipment used: Gibson ES335,Gibson J100,CA legacy,Martin CE04,Carvin,Rainsong,C.Powers Custom, few Fender amps Fishman Solo and my old faithful 35 year old Yamaha Acoustic. Acoustic Pickups-LL Baggs with the Mi-SI pickup capacitor(NO Battery) system PENDING-Welch twang-Slinger.
Official Website: http://doneidman.com
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/doneidman#ixzz1...
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