Donnie started playing guitar at the age of 15,
by 18 he was playing in local clubs with singer/keyboardist Steve Crooks and working at M.T.R. recording studio. He teamed up with song writer Terry Barrett to form Eyes in the Trees performing nightly at JB's in Kent, Ohio. Donnie continued to study the guitar and studied classical guitar with Tim Burkes of Hartship. His resume includes recording studio design and constuction, recording engineer, studio musician, song and jingle writer including "Cortez" a national televised commerical.