Born November 12th 1948 in Bryan Texas.
Donald Ray Johnson took an early interest in music, as did his older sister Janice Marie. They sang in church and at family functions.
At age 7, Donald Ray became interested in playing the drums, beating on whatever he could get his hands on. At
age 14, Donald Ray began his professional career with blues piano legend
Nat Dove. Throughout his teens Donald played with the two local bluesmen based in Bryan. Organist Joe Daniels, and Guitarist Lavernis Thurman.( " We played a live radio show every Sat. night.")
Jan. 18th, 1966, Donald Ray entered the US Navy
serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. After two tours
in southeast asia ( Viet Nam ), he was honorably discharged.
In early 1970, Don was called to play weekends in LA with Phillip Walker,
by long time friend Nat Dove, who now lived in LA. Some 29 years later the relationship with the Phillip Walker Band still
exists.
In 1971 Donald moved to LA to work with the Joe
Houston big band backing some of the west coast's top blues artist.
While trying to find a weekend gig Don met songwriter - producer,
Perry Kibble who was in the process of developing a group that featured
the talents of two young African American women, (bassist, Janice
Marie Johnson & guitarist Carlita Durhan). We later became known
as " A TasteOf Honey ".
In 1979, this band was the first Afro - American Band to win and
be presented with the "Grammy Award" for "Best New Artist".
Now living in Calgary, Alberta, Don has
become a well liked and respected member of the Canadian blues community.
Named "Best Canadian Male Blues Vocalist" in 1997 by Real
Blues Magazine, Don was also nominated "Best Blues Drummer"
in 1997 and Best Male Blues Vocalist in 1998 by the Toronto Blues
Society. He was recently nominated "Best Blues Artist"
by the Alberta Recording Industry Association (A.R.I.A.)
