Don joined Xyra's first band, Xyra & Verborgen, literally 'on stage' - late November 1997. Contributing the stability and prowess only a person of his caliber can provide, he displays both solid expertise and a calming nature in both live and studio peformance.
An accomplished professional and band leader, Don has toured and performed with such notable musicians as Martha Reeves, Dexter Gordon, and Ray Charles. He also appeared on MTV, accompanying the phenomenal guitar-genius, Danny Gatton.
Don attended The Berklee School, and the University of Maryland, earning his Master's degree in Music.
A greatly appreciated session musician, Don displays an intuitive grasp of many genres, taking him from astute talent in improvisation to thoughtfully creative arrangements and composition.
Television Soundtrack Credits Include: 'America's Most Wanted' episodes, National Geographic Specials - 'The Inca Ice Maiden', and 'Serval Cats'; the PBS Special - 'Secrets of the Realms of the Deep', and the Reader's Digest Special - 'The Story of America'. Don is also a former member of The Peabody Ragtime Ensemble.
More About Don ~
Birth sign :
Don doesn't believe in Astrology, but happens to be a Libra
Favorite films :
Black Orpheus
The Seventh Seal
Ran
Play It Again, Sam
Hannah and Her Sisters
The Producers -
(The original, though he likes the new version, too!)
Blazing Saddles
Guys and Dolls
Plan Nine From
Outer Space
Roger and Me
Favorite quote :
"The harder I work, the luckier I get." Unknown
"I don't know Marge, trying is just the first step towards failure" ~ Homer Simpson
Personal heroes :
John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Sir Issac Newton, and my wife Kathryn Stapleson
Memorable books :
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Mote In Gods Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
The Holy Bible
Most inspiring memories :
Opening for Dexter Gordon at Fort Dupont Park.
Playing the State Theater with Xyra & Verborgen.
Top albums of all time :
Giant Steps - John Coltrane
The Blues and the Abstract Truth - Oliver Nelson
La Flute A Paris - Alain Marion
Charlie Parker with Strings
John Barleycorn Must Die - Traffic
Barbershop Quartet Gangsta Raps Greatest Hits
All Blues Miles Davis
"You gotta have a dream . . ." :
My dream is to help people to bring out the music in themselves. To help them realize that they don't have to be dependent on the radio or the CD player. That we all can make and enjoy music.
Personal aspirations (realistic or not) :
To be able to perform freely and without inhibition in any style of music. To have the determination to continue striving to bring out the best in myself and to not settle for what I have already done.
History
Beautiful Noise
Verborgen
Xyra & Verborgen
The LINE
The XYRA Band
_nix "The Banished"?
CD's for Sale
Discography
Venues
Media
Doing Battle
Marco Delmar
Robert Goldstein
Member Bios
Xyra
Andrew Cann
Norm Thorne
Donald Stapleson
Eric Ulreich
Larry Lawrence
Fred Lieder
Robert Fogelmann
Edwin Cleverdon
Cris Cillura
Bret Empie
Doug Empie
Jeff Spencer
Dave Ray
Vince Calcaterra
Marc Collier