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.............Welcome to............. www.donbridgesongs.com Welcome inside the songwriting mind of don bridges. As you journey through these pages, feel free to stop and think, remember, chuckle, cry, meditate, sing, dance, hug someone, shake your head or shake whatever else you might be moved to shake. Hooray! don is grateful to announce that he has received the 2005 Childrens Vocalist "Wammie" award from the Washington Area Music Association. Thats two years in a row! Congratulations to all the other nominees and winners and many thanks to so many people whose support made this announcement possible. Heartfelt thanks to all those who helped make 2005 such an awesome experience. don was blessed to perform a total of 634 times during the course of the year, often playing multiple sets within those 634 shows. Performances as “mister don” included 515 interactive childrens concerts, birthday parties, and worship services. 119 appearances, either solo or as “don bridges and Friends,” took place at coffeehouses, showcases, senior centers, open mics, song circles, and even a 50th wedding anniversary celebration. During 2005, don was fortunate to participate in 35 songwriting workshops or critique sessions, volunteer or run sound at 62 events, enter the recording studio 32 times, and enjoy 36 concerts as a spectator (in addition to regular church attendance). Special appreciation is due the many people who worked so tirelessly during dons third (and final) year as SAW President. don is grateful to all the families, musicians, venue managers, volunteers, and music and spiritual community members who are making the outlook for 2006 even brighter! 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 Davids 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. The final count is in and don’s performance total for 2006 rings up at 718 shows, including all childrens and family concerts, birthday parties, worship services, and venues for the grownups. don has been honored by his peers with another Wammie nomination for Childrens Vocalist. He is especially pleased to see his performing partners Les Hatley, Michelle Murray, Loralyn Coles, and Ron Goad on the Wammie nomination ballot. The 2006 Wammie Awards will be held on Sunday 2/18/07.
Hooray! don has received his third consecutive Washington Area Music award, taking home the 2006 Childrens 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.
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! Update: Congratulations to Coach Cotton, WillieBob, and Boogie Woogie Benny of the kids music group Rocknoceros, who won both the Childrens Artist award and the Childrens 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. Running gig total for 2008 (January thru July): 332 performances for kids and families plus 80 for adults for a total of 412. 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. don defines a "gig" as a live performance or program at a single location within a single morning, afternoon or evening. For example, three songs at an open mic or a Sunday school worship or a 45-minute children's performance or three 45-minute classroom sets or a two-hour restaurant show or a three-and-a-half hour coffeehouse concert or five 25-minute classes would each count as one gig if performed within a single half-day, but five 25-minute classes in the morning and five 25-minute classes in the afternoon (with a break for lunch) are counted as two separate performances.
I do hope to meet all of you again as we trudge the road of happy destiny. Whether it's at a live performance, by images on a screen or printed page, through downloaded or recorded songs, in a chance meeting on the street or at a prearranged time and place, may God bless you and keep you until then. Warmly, don |
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| Late-Breaking News If you don't have much time to browse, please note these latest announcements: New monthly 2nd Monday morning show in Arlington! On the 2nd Monday of each month, mister don will perform from 10:30-11:15 am at the new Jackson's Roasting & Carving Company at Quincy Square in North Arlington, VA. The new store is at the same location as the old Daily Grind Coffee House on Quincy Street between Fairfax Street and Wilson Boulevard, where mister don used to perform on the fourth Friday morning of each month, and the same fun applies: Sing-alongs, motion songs, rhythm instruments, marching, and dancing for all! Suggested contribution per child is $5. Series dates are 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, and 12/8/08. New monthly 4th Westover Wednesday morning show in Arlington! On the 4th Wednesday of each month, mister don will perform from 10::00-11:00 am at the Lebanese Taverna in the Westover neighborhood of Arlington, VA. The restaurant is located at 5900 Washington Boulevard (at McKinley Street) and offers some incredible lunch specials after the show. Check out their website at www.lebanesetaverna.com. Upcoming dates are 8/27, 9/24, 10/22, 11/26, and 12/24/08. New time for mister don's monthly show at Stacy's in Falls Church. On the 4th Wednesday of every month (starting on 8/27/08), mister don performs from 4:00-5:00 pm at Stacy's Coffee and Ice Cream Parlor, located at 809 West Broad Street in Falls Church, VA. This replaces the old first Friday program. All the songs, rhythm instruments, motions, marching and dancing still apply. Suggested contribution per child is $5. Upcoming dates are 8/27, 9/24, 10/22, 11/26, and 12/24/08. Beginning in August 2008, mister don will perform on the odd Wednesdays (1st, 3rd & 5th of the month) at Mayorga Coffee in Silver Spring, MD, from 10:30-11:30 am. The good news is that E.J. (Eileen Joyner) will be performing at that location on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, so there now will be music there every week! Beginning on Monday, October 6, 2008, mister don will perform on the first Monday of every month from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in the spacious upstairs room of Sova Espresso, located at 1359 H Street, N.E., in Washington, DC. This program is sponsored by DCBoogieBabes.com. Admission is $5 for the first child and $2 for every additional child. Adults are free. On-street metered parking is available. Come sing, dance, march, play rhythm instruments, and join in the movin', groovin' fun with the hottest playgroup in the Nation's capital! Note: This program will not be held on Federal holidays like Labor Day. 2008 dates are 10/6, 11/3, and 12/1. New weekly Saturday evening performance by don bridges & Friends in Manassas! Beginning on Saturday, July 5, 2008, and every Saturday thereafter, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., don bridges and Friends will bring their tasteful acoustic mix of contemporary and traditional folk, bluegrass, country, novelty, soft rock, gospel, Celtic, blues, and children's songs to the Baskin Robbins-Dunkin Donuts store in Manassas. The store is located across from Prince William Hospital on the corner of Sudley Road and Rolling Road. There is no cover charge to attend, but tipping is encouraged. Once in a while, don will be unable to participate due to other obligations, but the show will be performed by Les Hatley, Loralyn Coles, T.M. Hanna, Rick Crump and/or others. Cinema Delray shows canceled! Well, not the movies themselves, but mister don's participation as the warm-up musical act outside the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Alexandria on Saturday 8/16 has been canceled by the sponsor of the event. No more Monday kids' shows with mister don at Java Dave's Coffee House in Chantilly. This cancellation by the coffeeouse management took effect on June 13, 2008. mister don apologizes to anyone inconvenienced by this action. mister don plans on even more teaching! In addition to his ongoing monthly preschool music programs at the Kindercare Learning Center at Franklin Farms (3rd Thursday mornings in Herndon, VA) and at the Annandale United Methodist Church Child Development Center (3rd Tuesday afternoons in Annandale, VA), and his weekly Sunday school worship at New Life Christian Church at Westmoreland (Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in McLean, VA), mister don will be teaching weekly preschool music classes beginning in September 2008 at the KidZone Christian Child Development Center (located at the New Life at Westmoreland building at 1988 Kirby Road in McLean, VA) on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m., and all day on Fridays (five morning classes and five afternoon classes) at the National Child Research Center located at 3209 Highland Place, N.W., in Washington, DC (with temporary facilities at Glen Echo Park, MD, during school facility renovations). don truly looks forward to working with the faculty and staff of these members schools in making a positive difference in the lives of so many young students. New kids' program in Lorton! Beginning on Monday, June 23, 2008, and the fourth Monday of every month thereafter, come see, hear, play, march, move, and dance with mister don from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Daily Grind Coffeehouse in Lorton, VA. The coffeehouse is located at 900 Lorton Station Boulevard, which is the same location as the ongoing Second Thursdays for Kids with mister don series at the same time on 8/14, 9/11, 10/9, 11/13 & 12/11/08. The 4th Monday series dates are 7/28, 8/25, 9/22, 10/27, 11/24, and 12/22/08.The monthly 1st Monday Music Matinee with mister don will continue on the first Monday of each month from 1:00-1:45 pm at the same location in Gainesville, on 6/2, 7/7, 8/4, 9/1, 10/6, 11/3 & 12/1/08. The Gainesville Third Mondays for Kids with mister don series will be held from 10:30-11:15 am at the Daily Grind Coffeehouse in Gainesville, VA, on 7/21, 8/18, 9/15, 10/20, 11/17 & 12/15/08. The Monthly Second Monday Music Matinee with mister don at the Daily Grind Coffeehouse in Stone Ridge, VA, will continue on the 2nd Monday of each month of 2008 at the new time of 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on 5/12, 6/9, 7/14, 8/11, 9/8/ 10/13, 11/10 & 12/8. This is the same location as the Fast Thursdays for Kids with mister don series on the last Thursday of each month from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. The Fast Thursdays dates are 7/31, 8/28, 9/25 & 10/30/08, with no Thursday shows in November and December due to the holidays. New Monday kids' show in D.C.! On 8/04/08, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., mister don will perform in the upstairs room of Sova Espresso, located at 1359 H Street, N.E. in Washington, D.C. The admission will be $5 for one kid and $2 for each additional kid. Come join three-time Wammie award winner mister don for a morning of sing-alongs, motion songs, rhythm instruments, marching and dancing! Manassas Mall Movers and Shakers is the new monthly 2nd Wednesday morning program in Manassas! On 7/09, 9/10 and 10/08/08, mister don will partner with Jensy Scarola of Fit and Healthy Schools, Inc., to lead an exercise and dance class for kids in the J.C. Penney Court of Manassas Mall, located at Sudley Road (Rte. 234 Business) and Irongate Way in Manassas, VA. The program is FREE and open to the public and will include a LOT of music, a LOT of rhythm instruments, a LOT of movement, a LOT of stretching, and a LOT of fun! The June and July shows were huge successes! See you there! The Monthly 1st Thursday Family Night with mister don at the Sugarland Crossing Chick-fil-A in Sterling, VA, from 6:00-8:00 pm will continue on the 1st week of each month. The Thumpin Thursdays with mister don series at the Pink Pantry coffeehouse at 7144 Main Street in Clifton, VA, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., is held only on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Miss Belle will continue to provide her Sing-along hour for kids at that same location from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of each month. This change took effect on May 1, 2008. No show will be held on June 26. The monthly 2nd Thursday open mic hosted by don at Jesspresso Coffee in Manassas, VA, will continue from 7 to 9 p.m. on 8/14, 9/11, 10/9, 11/13 & 12/11/08. mister don performs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins store in Manassas, VA, located on the corner of Sudley Road (Rte 234 Business) and Rolling Road, across from Prince William Hospital. This series started on May 15, 2008. mister don plays on the 1st Friday of each month from 10:30-11:15 am @ Stacys Coffee Parlor in Falls Church, VA, on 8/1/08. No show on July 4th. The series will be discontinued after the show on August 1, 2008. The Arlington Fourth Fridays for Kids with mister don on the fourth Friday of each month from 10:30-11:15 am at the new Jackson's Roasting & Carving Company (formerly the Daily Grind Coffeehouse) on Quincy Street in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington, VA, will be held on 7/25/08. It will be discontinued after the July show. Stay tuned to find out if a Monday morning date will replace it in the future. The new Alexandria Fourth Mondays for Kids with mister don will be presented at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays 7/28, 8/25, 9/22, 10/27, 11/24 and 12/22/08. It relaces the old 4th Fridays series. Please remember that Sweet Life Saturdays with mister don at the Sweet Life Cafe in Fairfax, VA, takes place at the new, earlier time of 9:15 to 10:00 a.m. The new time took effect on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Mr. Skip will sub for mister don on August 2. Sorry! Due to email server problems, we have not been able to send out the monthly performance calendar via email. Please check the Gigs & News page here for the complete list of upcoming performances. Monthly Open Mic Night hosted by don bridges continues from 7-9 pm on the second Thursday evening of each month at Jesspresso Coffee in Manassas, VA. Additional Note: For your convenience, any gig specifically for the grownups (rather than a childrens or family show) is preceded by the letter “G.” See don bridges & Friends (an ever-evolving assembly of incredibly talented musicians that includes Loralyn Coles on percussion, guitar, and vocals; TM Hanna on mandolin, harmonica, banjo, pennywhistle, standup bass, and vocals; Les Hatley on lead guitar and vocals; and others) at these upcoming shows: G Starting 07/05/08 Every Saturday 7:00-9:00 pm Baskin Robbins-Dunkin Donuts, Manassas, VA. G 07/25/08 Fri. 8:00-10:00 pm St. Elmos Coffee Pub, Alexandria, VA. G 08/01/08 Fri. 7:00-9:00 pm Jesspresso, Manassas, VA. G 08/22/08 Fri. 8:30-10:00 pm St. Elmos Coffee Pub, Alexandria, VA. Opening act 8:00-8:30 Ryan Payne. G 09/26/08 Fri. 8:00-10:00 pm St. Elmos Coffee Pub, Alexandria, VA. mister don Public Kids Show Schedule: 1st Monday of each month, 1:00-1:45 pm Daily Grind, Gainesville, VA. 2nd Monday of each month, 4:00-5:00 pm Daily Grind, Stone Ridge, VA. 3rd Monday of each month, 10:30-11:45 am Daily Grind, Gainesville, VA. 3rd Monday of each month, 3:00-4:00 pm Beans in the Belfry, Brunswick, MD. 4th Monday of each month, 10:30-11:30 am Daily Grind, Lorton Station, Lorton, VA. 4th Monday of each month, 3:30-5:00 pm Alexandria Fourth Mondays for Kids with mister don @ St. Elmos Coffee Pub, Alexandria, VA. Every Tuesday, 10:30-11:30 am Jammin Java, Vienna, VA. Every Tuesday, 6:00-8:00 pm Silver Diner Kids Night (1st Tuesday-Springfield; 2nd & 5th Tuesdays-Fair Oaks; 3rd & 4th Tuesdays-Merrifield). 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th Wednesday of each month, 10:30-11:30 am Mayorga Coffee, Silver Spring, MD. 2nd Wednesday (9/10 & 10/8), 10:00-11:00 am Manassas Mall (JC Penneys Court), Movers & Shakers, Manassas, VA. Wednesday 8/13, 10 am & 11 am, Springfield Mall (JC Penneys Court), Moms & Moppets Kids Club, Springfield, VA. 3rd Wednesday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm Family Night @ Fair Oaks Mall Chick-fil-A, Fairfax, VA. 1st Thursday of each month, 10:30-11:30 am Beans in the Belfry, Brunswick, MD. 1st Thursday of each month, 6:00-8:00 pm Chick-fil-A Family Night, Sugarland Crossing, Sterling, VA 2nd Thursday of each month, 10:30-11:30 am Daily Grind Coffeehouse, Lorton, VA. 2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month, 4:00-5:00 pm The Pink Pantry, Clifton, VA. 3rd Thursday of each month, 1:30-2:30 pm Jesspresso Coffee & Ice Cream, Manassas, VA. 3rd Thursday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm Dunkin Donuts-Baskin Robbins, Manassas, VA. Last Thursday of each month, 10:15-11:00 am Daily Grind Coffeehouse, Stone Ridge, VA. Every Saturday is Sweet Life Saturday, 9:15-10:00 am The Sweet Life Cafe, Fairfax, VA. Mr. Skip or E.J. (Eileen Joyner) will sub for mister don from time to time due to other commitments like early morning birthday parties. Additional Public Events with mister don for Kids and Families: 08/16/08 Sat. CANCELED by sponsor. Cinema Delray @ Mount Vernon Recreation Center, Alexandria, VA. 08/23/08 Sat. 11:00 am-12:00 noon Outdoors at the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network "Walk for Food Allergies" @ Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville, VA. Free. 09/29/08 Mon. 11:00-11:40 am Aladdin's Lamp Children's Bookstore, Arlington, VA. Free. 10/23/08 Thu. 11:00-11:40 am Aladdin's Lamp Children's Bookstore, Arlington, VA. Free. Monthly Open Mic hosted by don bridges:2nd Thursday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm, Jesspresso Coffee, Manassas, VA. Upcoming dates in 2008: 9/11, 10/09, 11/13 & 12/11. Regular performances in 2008 by don bridges & Friends: G Every Saturday 7:00-9:00 pm Baskin Robbins-Dunkin Donuts, Manassas, VA. (starts 7/05/08) Every Sunday: mister don helps lead the 11 am KIDZONE childrens worship service & Sunday School (for all ages) @ New Life Christian Church's Westmoreland Community Church campus, located at 1988 Kirby Road (the corner of Kirby Road & Westmoreland Street) in McLean, VA. More information is available at www.westmorelandchurch.org. There are great worship services and teachings for both adults & kids at all the campuses of New Life Christian Church, including at 9:30 am & 11:00 am @Westfield High School, 4701 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly, VA; and 10:00 am @ Battlefield HS in Haymarket, VA. For info, call 703.222.8836 or visit www.newlife4me.com. All are welcome, especially people with questions about spiritual matters! Great Music for Great Kids: mister don currently offers two childrens recordings: Shooka-la-la! (6 songs on CD for $5) and mister don (25-song CD for $15). Previous recordings are no longer available (including the Wammie-nominated Alive & Kickin with mister don (17-song VHS video), Bridges To Bliss - Totally for Kids (13-song cassette), and the Wammie-nominated Bridges To Bliss - Kids Songs! (10-song cassette). To order either the Shooka-la-la! CD or the mister don CD, send your check or money order and your return address to: don bridges, P.O. Box 230741, Centreville, VA 20120-0741. Add 2 bucks S&H for the first item and 1 buck for each additional item. |
Navigation Bar Check out the Navigation Bar menu on the left side of each page. Click on those links to navigate between pages. Your choices include: Welcome - Brings you back to this home page. don's Bio - Stuff about don's music & songwriting career. Gigs and News - Everything that's fit to print about venue locations, dates, and times. Lyric Pages - Full-text lyrics of don's original and co-written songs will be updated periodically. As any author, creative artist or spiritual being will attest, this is the true heart of the matter. Just for Kids - The best in Children's music. Pure, unadulterated fun! Bridges To Bliss - don's award-winning trio from the 1990s with Bobbi Bliss and David M. Scales. Lots of photos. don's Guestbook - If you'd like to comment on the layout, content, photos or color scheme of these pages, voice your opinions about don's lyrics, recordings or performances, provide suggestions, praise or criticism or air your views on the price of kimchee in Pyongyang, here's your chance. G-rated comments only, please. Links - A valuable resource to understanding what charges don's batteries. If you figure anything out, feel free to let him know. Book a Gig - don is available for birthday and other parties, retirement homes, festivals, fun fairs, coffeehouses, and just about anywhere the smoke isn't too thick and the folks aren't too drunk. Contact don - Send an email. No attachments or viruses, please. |
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Have An Ardmore Afternoon! An Ardmore Afternoon, a Wammie nominee for Best Contemporary Folk Recording of 2004, is dons singer-songwriter CD of 13 original songs in a variety of styles. You can order it for fifteen bucks per disk plus two bucks for shipping & handling from don bridges, P.O. Box 230741, Centreville, VA 20120. And it's also available online! Order An Ardmore Afternoon! You are this website's visitor number |
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