mister don was happy to learn that for the third year in a row, he appeared on the 11 o'clock news coverage of First Night Alexandria.  The feature on December 31, 2008, was by the local NBC affiliate, WRC Channel 4, as mister don was playing the kids' all-time favorite, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."

2008 WAMMIES UPDATE:  Congratulations to Rocknoceros, who received their second consecutive Children's Artist Wammie award, to Ron Goad, who received his second consecutive award for Most Supportive of Washington Music, to Loralyn Coles, who received the Wammie for Traditional Folk Recording (in a tie with Grammy winner Tom Paxton), to SAW President Jean Bayou, who received the Wammie for Executive of the Year, to Jon Carroll, who received an astounding six Wammie awards including Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, and to all the other winners and nominees.

Hip, hip, hooray!  mister don has received another Wammie nomination for the 2008 Children's Artist award.  His bandmates have also received multiple Wammie nominations.  Congratulations to Les Hatley (lead guitarist for the band Seneca, which received a nomination for Gospel Group), Ron Goad (nominated for Most Supportive of Washington Area Music), and Loralyn Coles, who received an amazing four Wammie nominations this year (Traditional Folk Vocalist, Traditional Folk Recording, Debut Recording, and Most Supportive of Washington Area Music). 

Grand total of gigs for 2008 (January thru December):  540 performances for kids and families plus 114 for adults for a total of 654.  Monthly stats are:  January: 54 kids + 10 adults = 64; February: 47 kids + 10 adults = 57; March: 47 kids + 12 adults = 59; April: 46 kids + 10 adults = 56; May: 45 kids + 13 adults = 58; June: 45 kids + 10 adults = 55; July: 48 kids + 15 adults = 63; August: 46 kids + 10 adults = 56; September: 36 kids + 10 adults = 46; October: 43 kids + 3 adults = 46; November: 40 kids + 4 adults = 44; December: 43 kids + 7 adults = 50.  The 2008 total of 654 live performances is down from the upward trend of previous several years (634 in 2005; 718 in 2006; and 753 in 2007).  don likes to consider this an improvement in quality, playing smarter rather than than simply more often.

Well, 2007 was another record-setting year, with a total of 753 public performances (that's an average of more than two a day), including 636 shows for kids & families and 117 for adults.  mister don received yet another Wammie nomination for Children's Artist, while the don bridges & Friends band members Loralyn Coles and Les Hatley also received 2007 Wammie nominations, Loralyn for Most Supportive of Washington Area Music, for her dedicated service to SAW, WAMA, IMT, Hungry for Music, and other organizations, and Les for Gospel Group as the lead guitarist in Seneca.  Ron Goad, who also plays with don from time to time and books SAW songwriter showcases all over the area, was another Most Supportive Wammie nominee.  The Wammie Awards will be held at the State Theater in Falls Church, Virginia, at 8:00 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2008.  Best of luck to all the nominees! 

2007 Wammies Update:  Congratulations to Coach Cotton, WillieBob, and Boogie Woogie Benny of the kids' music group Rocknoceros, who won both the Children's Artist award and the Children's Recording award at the 22nd Annual Washington Area Music Awards on 2/17/08.  A special acknowledgement also to Ron Goad, who won the Wammie this year for Most Supportive of Washington Area Music.

Hooray!  don has received his third consecutive Washington Area Music award, taking home the 2006 Children's Artist Wammie this year.  Congratulations to all the other winners and nominees and many thanks to all the people whose support has made this possible.

The final count is in and don’s performance total for 2006 rings up at 718 shows, including all children's and family concerts, birthday parties, worship services, and venues for the grownups.  don has been honored by his peers with another Wammie nomination for Children's Vocalist.  He is especially pleased to see his performing partners Les Hatley, Michelle Murray, Loralyn Coles, and Ron Goad on the Wammies nomination ballot.  The 2006 Wammies Awards will be held on Sunday 2/18/07.

don wants to report on a moving spiritual experience that occurred in Lynchburg, VA, on the afternoon of Saturday, August 26, 2006.  A 15-year old Boy Scout named Joey Ricketts, as his Eagle Scout project, had conceived, designed, raised over $10,000, and then oversaw to completion the construction of a memorial to the victims of the 9-11-01 terrorist attack at The Pentagon.  A special commemoration was presented to honor dons former music partner in Bridges To Bliss, U.S. Army Colonel David M. Scales, who had been a former Eagle Scout from Lynchburg working at The Pentagon on 9-11.  About 200 people, reporters, four TV camera crews, and most of the Scales clan attended the dedication ceremony on 8/26/06.  Through persistent letters to his Congressman, Senators, and The White House, Joey had been able to acquire a piece of limestone rubble from The Pentagon ruins which stood close to two feet atop a bronze-inscripted five-foot tall granite obelisk surrounded by a Pentagon-shaped concrete platform.  During the dedication ceremony, speakers from the Boy Scouts, the Pentagon, the American Legion, and other organizations, as well as Davids aging father, J.B. Scales (an Army veteran from WW II, Korea, and Vietnam who came all the way from Wilmington, NC), gave remarks, and Boy Scouts read the names of all 184 people who had died aboard the airliner and inside The Pentagon on that day.  It was a warm, calm afternoon featuring music by a brass quintet from the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra.  don and Bobbi Bliss also were invited to sing two of the songs they had written and performed with David.  Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Bobbi and don were able to sing and play along to David's piano accompaniment.  Near the end of their second song, a brisk wind came rushing through the assemblage, sending hats and papers flying and knocking down many of the flags surrounding the memorial.  As the final note of the song rang out, the wind stopped and a deep hush fell over the entire area.  Thank you, Joey; thank you, David; thank you, Bobbi; and thank You, God, for making that experience possible.