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www.dwguitar.com
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""If he don't stop pickin' that thing it won't heal.” "
Male
51 years old
ANCHORAGE, Alaska
United States
Last Login: 9/14/2008
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working
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www.dwguitar.com's Details
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| Status: | Engaged | | Here for: | Networking, Friends | | Orientation: | Straight | | Body type: | 6' 0" | | Ethnicity: | White / Caucasian | | Zodiac Sign: | Virgo | | Children: | Proud parent | | Occupation: | Musician Full Time!! |
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About me:
Going back to the roots of Country music for inspiration from such Artists as Hank Williams, Farron Young and Marty Robbins, Anchorage resident, Don Walker has produced a blend of Country styles sure to please the Traditional Old style and new Country fans as well. From the crying steel guitar sound on the early Hank Williams records to some very hot upbeat guitar pickin', there's something here for anyone who likes to dance and likes great country music
Don was born in Seattle in 1957 and when he was old enough to reach the piano keys, his parents would set him on the bench and let him "bang away for hours", to keep him out of trouble. While sitting at the piano, he would make up songs then play them for anyone who would listen including the family pets. Everyone in his family played music and he remembers, as a child, falling asleep as his mother would be singing and playing hymns downstairs on the family organ.
In 4th grade Don decided he just had to play drums and then later he then decided he had to play accordion… then sax... As the years and instruments came and went and because his father took him to see Chet Atkins for his first concert, Don, at 12 years old, decided that he had to learn the guitar as well. He had found his instrument at last! His father still remembers, "I just showed him the G chord and then he just took off bending the strings". Don also liked the sound of the banjo and started playing it in the church orchestra where he found most people thought he should stick with the guitar… Don says "I still remember the "Tone it down!!" look the pastor would give me when I started to play just a little bit too wild."
Don took as many music classes as he could in Jr. and Sr. high. By playing at parties, with his musician friends, Don got his first taste of what would become the driving force in his life. He continued to write and study music playing in a number of bands. A band that Don had played with called and asked him if he would like to come play in the clubs in Hawaii. He quickly bought a one-way ticket and was off to "Paradise". When he got there he found all the members of the band were living in one small studio apartment and owed about 6 months back rent. So after 5 long months and a few jobs flipping burgers Don finally had saved enough money to buy a ticket back home to Seattle where he started going to the open mics and bluegrass jams.
At one of the bluegrass jams Don was asked to join a bluegrass band called "Lost in the mail" and so started his adventure into the bluegrass festivals. Don met an electric fiddle player and with the addition of Rod Backman on stand up bass "DW and the SLIDERS" was born. The music they played (for free) was a kind of jazz/grass and was well liked by the college crowd. Don won the "Best Guitarist Award" at the Kamloops Bluegrass & Country Music Festival when he was hired by a touring bluegrass band and toured Canada and the Pacific Northwest, opening shows for Ricky Skaggs, Jim and Jesse and others.
Don really enjoyed playing the Western swing tunes he heard at the festivals and in the mid 90's Don was asked to do a tour playing guitar for Country Music Hall of Fame Star Hank Thompson. When the tour was over Don and his wife moved from the Blues and Grunge scene of Seattle to Anchorage Alaska where there was more opportunity to play country music. Don has been living in Alaska since then and has kept very busy performing 4 to 6 nights a week. It has been said more than once about Don's guitar playing…
"If he don't stop pickin' that thing it won't heal.”
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