Don Rollins is a native of Beaumont, Texas; home of such varied musicians as Edgar and Johnny Winter, Janis Joplin, George Jones, and Tracy Byrd. He began playing guitar at age seven, and saxophone at ten and after graduating from Vidor High School attended Lamar University as a music education major.
After college, Don became a school band director, teaching instrumental music around southeast Texas while continuing a professional playing career as a saxophonist. In 1989, he made his first trip to Nashville as a songwriter, signing a publishing deal with Almarie Music, a publisher affiliated with Step One Records. That deal resulted in a Ray Price cut (Love Me Down To Size) and a fascination with songs and songwriting.
In the early 1990s, Don began writing with a young keyboard and guitar player that he was playing clubs with, and that young man moved to Nashville soon after, landing a publishing deal with a co-venture at Warner/Chappell Music and a record deal with Sony. That young writer was D. Vincent Williams (I’m Movin’ On) and many of the songs that landed him his first accolades were Rollins collaborations, eventually leading to Don signing with the same Warner co-venture in 1997.
Don continued his multifaceted career as a band director, saxophonist, and songwriter until 2001, when he moved to Nashville to write full time. In February of 2003 he and Jim “Moose” Brown wrote “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” which was recorded by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett. The song spent eight weeks at the top of the Billboard and R&R country charts, winning the 2003 Grammy Award for best country song.
Don continues to write and has had cuts by Ricky Skaggs, Neal McCoy, Randy Travis, Keith Harling, and British artist Edwina Hayes. Most recently Don has placed two songs on the platinum Reba Duets album. "Sleeping With The Telephone" a duet with Faith Hill and "Everyday People" a duet with Carole King. He also continues to perform as a saxophonist, backing such artists as Martha and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and Little Anthony and the Imperials.
Hey Don,Hi, Thanks so much for being my friend! I"ve been so blessed from God this year, "Its Gonna Turn" is still getting adds,I would love to hear your comment. My other song "Cut Me Loose" is in regular rotatation on XM Radio on XM11 "The Nashville Channel", and my next release "Tonight I let You Go" is being releasd from nashville next week! I"m so excited. My band and I are booking out gigs for this ,I would love to come play for you, hope to see you down the road!
Hi,Friend.It's joy to know you, wishing the nicest things always for you, not only today, but all the year through because you are really a joy to know.
Thank you so much for the add Don. It’s very nice to meet you. Love your songs!! I hope you’ll come by to listen to my songs. New song added “You’re My Everything”. "Loving You All Over Again" recorded by new country artist Todd Berry, with Spotlight Records... will be released next month, I’m sooo excited!!! Plus… New movie in the works called “Gold Score” I’m very happy to say that I’m one of the writers on the movie soundtrack titled “Make This Glory Ride”. If you would like to read about the movie go to http://www.goldscorethemovie.com/Home_Page.html
Have a fabulous weekend & thanks again for the add :) God bless…
Hey Don, I really admire your work. Thanks for adding me. I hope to meet up with you at the NSAI Spring Symposium. If you have a minute please give my music a listen. I would value your comments. Much respect, Bill
Hi! Mr. Don is for me an honour to have worked with such a great musician like you in Taylor's song "Wizard". I never thought that my music was coming so far away,and I am glad to be part of her "team". Regards. Ivan Ruiz
wow...if I we weren't buddies I would be overwhelmed and impressed by your talent and success...but since were friends I'm more like, "awe! The Don is at it again, aint he just so cute!" ...and then theres that whole throwing pennies at you.
