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Don has been drumming since he was old enough to hold onto the sticks. His first true education
in drumming was in the drum corp in high school. From there, he moved to Athens and started A Salem Affair(ooooh...dark and
mysterious!) with John March, Topher, and "the Swede". Following the band's demise, he found four (Todd, Nick, Eric, and Kevin)
other outstanding musicians to play with. Don attracts talented musicians to his drumming as if they were just lead to the
music and don't really know how they got there. But once there, they are .darn happy they showed up!
Athens:
Don played in "Windowpane" and could often be found on the stage of the 40 WATT, The UPTOWN LOUNGE, & ROCKFISH PALACE.
The band had quite a following for the rockin' hard music as well as a large female following for reasons that are obvious.
After "Windowpane" came "Dragon Groove" where Don hooked up with the infamous Boo of Athens, GA and Robert"Conan" Cox. Like
the name "Dragon Groove" had an infectious groove that could move to heavy rock n roll without missing a beat. "Dragon Groove"
was often found outback at the ROCKFISH PALACE, FREDS, VARIOUS FESTIVALS INCLUDING THE NORMAL RALLY/HEMP FEST in Athens and
also had a strong following. Don also started playing with "Syds Syrcus" while in Athens and picked up where he left off some
time later in Atlanta.
Atlanta: Don played with Rob Guthrie and Alan Burton in a project called "Pangaea."
The threesome were regularly booked and played all about town. Some of the spots included the Red Light, Thunder Road, and
Eyedrum. All the while, Don was still playing around with "Syd's Syrcus."
Don has played with "Syd's Syrcus"
since the late 80's and it is a project that picks up when the four feel the need for a familiar rocking, melodic, syncopated
rhythm. "Syds Syrcus" has all been booked around Athens and Atlanta.
Lydia Stone was a brief but busy
venture into the fusion of hard rock with the voice of a hard core R&B female singer. Don and Lydia Stone could be seen
in Athens at The Athens Music Factory and locally here in Atlanta at Smiths Old Bar and The Village in East Atlanta.
Don
and friends Al Greene, Rob Guthrie, and Alan Burton have a just for fun band called "Rusty Stink Foot and the Existentialist
Chicken" and can be seen playing back yards and porch stoops all about town, but have seriously played a few real gigs including
one at The Famous ALLENS in Athens, GA.
Don played a great deal A few Fall and Winter's ago with Ralph Roddenbery and friends. Ralph is hailed
as one of Georgia's best kept secrets. He is a brilliant performer with a distinct delivery that suits the honest, potent
lyrics of his songs. Don travelled a bit with Ralph and Friends playing festivals. They drew a great crowd at the Harvest
Fest and again drew a nice big crowd at the MACON Bragg Jam FESTIVAL. They also enjoyed much hippie love and playing out in
the woods a few times this fall. Don was a regular behind the kit with Ralph Roddenbery at JAKES TOADHOUSE in Atlanta and
still fills in when subliminally channeled by Ralph and the band. You can check out the latest on what Ralph has going on
at www.ralphroddenbery.com
Don and The Dutchmasters were the house band for Little Five Points Alive in Little Five...a
fun, crazy variety show that closed in 2004 .
The Dutchmasters did regularly play about Atlanta at festivals, clubs, restaurants, and theaters...some
include every 4th Sunday at Sweet Melissa's Brunch 10a-3p in Decatur and as called upon at The Savage Tree in Avondale Estates.
But this summer Jeff moved away and the Dutchmasters put out the pipe.
Randomly you may find Don behind his kit with Brian Lavelle (Singer/Songwriter.) These two hook and play
any random event possible and always have a great time when they play together. This is not a regular band gig, but the two
have an energy that just works when they are on stage together.
You can check him out at http://www.brianlavelle.com. Brian has an outstanding almost infectious
stage presence that draws the crowd in and can be seen around Atlanta and Vinings. Don is featured on drums on the THE GOLD
DIGGER SONG on Brian's CD Everything Changes. Don has played with Brian at Smith's Old Bar, The Park Bench (Emory), The Vinings
Inn, and several spring/summer festival dates including the Inman Park Festival sponsored by Effen Vodka. You can SEE Don
play LIVE with Brian Lavelle in streaming video by following these directions below (link also on Brian's site).
Streaming
Video Link info: (or just click on link on the links page)
Follow the link for a streaming video clip of our,
The Brian Lavelle Band, performance from Smiths Olde Bar. Click on Brian Lavelle and choose your bandwidth low for dialup,
and hi for dsl/broadband. If ya cannot access the link then copy and paste it to your browser...there may be some problems
if ya have a Mac.
http://www.atlantalocalmusic.com/index.aspx
Don sometimes still collaborates with The Amazing Lizardo's Collaborative Spectical whenever called upon.
Lizardo's group can be found quite a bit at Muligans in Oakhurst village and can also be found scattered about town you just
have to look out for them...when you are close you are SURE to hear them. For a fun, experimental, night of fantasy
and fussion check out a show.
THE 5TH SUNDAYS (Once a Regular Band Preforming project/Don has since parted ways with this project)
Don Whitaker on drums/percussion -- Julie on Sax, Flute, Vocals -- Michael on Guitar, random other cool stuff, vocals -- Dave
on Stand Up Bass, Bass and probably some vocals too. Don might even chime in with this group of groovy people.
The 5th Sunday is taking your latest favorite song, that old classic song from the 70's, or even some psychedelic anthem and
adding a little jazz and even some sass (enter Julie.) It is also taking your favorite old jazz, swing, flapper, or vaudeville
tune and adding some ruff edges and even some kick-ass (enter Don.) The 5th Sunday is something you have never seen before...a
tye-dye wearing, loud ass drummer, a sassy prissy princess of sax & flute-playing vocalist, a classically trained, contained,
disciplined yet rowdy guitarist, and a quiet, stoic, chilled out dude with a 5-string upright. Check us out sometime.
Don also plays VERY OFTEN with a multi talented group of four musicians. The band's name is GODDESS ROCKS and they are showing
up all over Atlanta thank in most part to lead singer and lead promo genious Holly Howell. Holly's vocals have been compared
to Natalie Merchant with MORE SOUL. This band brings the goddess to the stage and encourages everyone to "get your goddess
on" during the show. With Holly on vocals, Shanti on Flute, Ben on Bass, and Don on drums and percussion these guys take
a little folk, a little rock, a little disco mix it up with untouchable songwriting and lyrics and command their audiences
attention. Talent oooozzzess. Good Karma Flows. And a good time is guaranteed for every show you see and you'll never see
same show twice.
A While ago you could spot Don and the gang called Bump Trumpet a.k.a. Tao Flowan at THE FIVE SPOT in little five,
JAKES TOADHOUSE, and at several festivals. Bump Trumpet evolved into a project called Tao Flowan.They played THE BRANDY HOUSE
in addition to THE 5 SPOT. This project was a jazz meets rock meets 'The Cure' interesting fusion that sadly is out of business.
One of the members became a "behind the music" story before his time, but is out and on the prowl again. Paul D, Rob, Dave,
Michael and Don.
Born from Tao Flowan was a great BAND & friendship, kindship, and respect for one another's music between Don and Rob. Don(on
drums and Percussion), Rob (Lead Vocals and Guitar), and Calvin (Bass) now play regularly as Breaking Sarah. The do the occasional
twist on a cover tune, some crazy funk, some down home rock, some industrial, some grunge and it just keeps going but it is
all bleneded perfectly into a nice caserole of fantanstic musical perfection. Think the cure meets, nine inch nails, meets
chili peppers, meets nirvana, meets the black crowes and gov't mule all together.
Electric Cod Piece was born out of a bunch of guys jamming at parties and gatherings that seemed to always draw a crowd.
So the 6 of them started getting together to jam at each others houses and realized they were suddenly a 'real' band. If
you like the Grateful Dead you will love these guys and their long jams and story telling lyrics. See them and you'll find
your body flowing in motion to the massive grooves on stage. In the band are "The Codfather" Dave Bard-Mandolin/Vocals/Percussion,"The
Living Legend" Bryan Lee Morris-Lead Guitar,Don "Drumho" Whitaker
-Drums, Kevin "the sheet" Ponton-Guitar/Vocals, Brian "Bones" O'Neil-Keys, Michael Hurwitx-Bass.
You'll find Don regularly playing with a bevy of percussionists. They play any number of tribal, unconventional and out of
the ordinary drums and instruments of percussion. This project is lead by Joel Rives. For now, we are calling them "We Play
Wednesday." They recently played at benefit at THE MASQUERADE. Check Don's Calendar page for upcoming shows and drum circles.
We will let you know if the name changes.
Last winter Don collaborated with Mitch "the Amazing Lizzardo"
to perform and outdoor Gallery fundraising event with a group of well known and loved local mucisians known as The Spectacle.
They had a great time and did a good deed for the Downtown Gallery. Don also played with The Amazing Lizzardo
and his spectacle this year on Saturday and Sunday at the lake stage of the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park.
Also Don
had the pleasure of sitting in for a few shows with "Escape Vehicle." These guys can jam and Don fit in just like a perfectly
fitted suit...I mean Tie-Dye. They had several gigs lined up and played several at JAKES TOADHOUSE before finding a full-time
drummer.
Looking for some REAL GOOD BLUES? The guys will leave you breathless. This is jam your face off blues!!!
You'll find Don doing a guest appearance behind the drum kit with the Black Sheep Blues on occasion when THE Johnny Scales
calls upon him. You can check out their website at
http://www.blacksheepblues.com/
Occasionally Don sits
in with Heidi Pollyea on two of her projects. He has played grass roots party events with "Heidi and the Hushpuppies" as well
as gracing the stage of JAKES TOADHOUSE. When she can convince him to sport a tux and do the occasional corporate show, you'll
see Don playing kit with Hiedi in a group called " Body and Soul" Don currently recorded tracks with Heidi REALEASE
date TBA.
Heidi is mainly involved with her own special brand of "funky folk" with "Heidi and the Hushpuppies" and
can be contacted at heidipollyea@aol.com.
Then, of course, there is TRIBE. Don is a standing member of Jim
Barrow's TRIBE. Tribe is what one might call performance art collides with damn good music. They play any parade or Benefit
they can get their art car/ship into and have played EyeDrum Gallery and the Ripe Benefit (fire and fun) among other venues.
If you are bothered by a little nudity and a ton of outstanding musicians then you'd better skip this one, but I highly suggest
you get your butt to see them when given the chance.
Studio Gigs: Finished the one above with Heidi. Don is (playing every kind of percusion imaginable in
the Studio with Brian Lavelle. Brian is Playing, Producing, and editing.Several other musians are working with them to
create demos, provide additional studio music and so on.
Last, but not least, Don and his Djembe are regulars when the Lake Claire Landtrust have a fundraiser/Drum
Circle in the Candler Park/Lake Claire area. The park is beautiful and so is the sound that is generated at each of these
fundraising events to keep the park open and beautiful.
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