Well, it's kinda like.. an old stage name for me, Don Hildenbrand... I know..it's confusing...but I used to use my middle name and shortened the last name, but now...I embrace my Don-liness. I'd change the whole site, but, you know, re-uploading a hundred songs just takes too much time...

I play live mostly in church venues. I love playing live... it sure beats playing dead....
My most special moment was when I was singing in a Southern Gospel quartet while I was in college in the 80's, and our publicist booked us in in an urban Black church. For some reason, they really didn't seem to be too much into Southern Gospel.. reminded me of the Blues Brothers... BUT... just like in the Blues Brothers, we, as my army buddies used to say, adapted and overcame! It was fun.

I think the MP3 revolution has.. uh... revolutionized the music industry, for the better. Anyone can get their music out. Which, well, may or may not be a good thing.... hmmmm....

Maybe... then again, maybe not... the real question is, would they sign a contract with ME?????? Actually, I'm more interested in the songwriting side of the biz... The sad truth is, I'm just too old and worn out to want to go that route. But if you're LOOKING for a song to record, well, have your people call my people, and let's do lunch! Or, does that only work in LA?

I started writing and singing music when I was a younger teen... I played semi-professionally in Portland Oregon in the late 70's and early 80's.. then for some reason I joined the army. They didn't have a songwriter job open, though... so I didn't really start doing much again until the late 80's. In 1998, I was able to compete in the Nationally known Jimmy Dean Country Music Showdown... lost to the son of richest man in the county... hmmm... still haven't figured that one out...

My musical influences have included Gordon Lightfoot, the Eagles, Stephen Curtis Chapman, and even a little bit of Stevie Ray thrown in for good measure....

Anywhere it's just me and my guitar and the people I love... But Portland, OR, where I grew up, always has a special place in my heart.

I use a Yamaha acoustic guitar... a Behringer USB electric guitar, and a whole lot of Band in A Box... uh... Sony Vegas; Cakewalk Sonar Pro; Sound Forge; ...whatever does the trick.

If you're from the Wisconsin area and would like me to perform/minister anywhere within reasonable distance, have your people email my people, and we'll do lunch... or just email me direct, that would be better! If you're a publisher, band, or individual who would be interested in recording and/or performing these songs, contact me, and we'll talk.