| Was born on November 8th
and grew up in a middle class farm and ranch community in
rural Nebraska. His mother was a "Cabaret"
Singer, living in Baton Rouge, LA, when she met his musician
father. D.R. began his singing career at age six,
learning songs from the Country Music Radio Shows and singing
those songs in part at family picnics. He has been a
part of the entertainment industry ever since.
D.R.'s early influences came in part
from his mother and father's musical background. A
little from his fathers twin brother who was a professional
magazine photographer, specializing in landscapes and
flowers. Other influences stem from some of his favorite
singers and songwriters, such as Hank Williams Sr., Johnny
Cash, Buddy Holly, Elvis, and of course the legendary Conway
Twitty - to name a few.
D.R. is a Vietnam Era Veteran who
served two tours of duty in the U.S. and in Europe, earning
himself two Honorable Discharges. D.R. still believes in
Liberty, Freedom, and the Constitutional Rights of Americans
today. After returning home from the service, he
performed one night stands in night clubs, performing on
occasion with the band of Jackie White and the Texas
Five. Hosted talent shows, talent contests, jam sessions,
and has even been offered a recording contract or two, but
that's another story.
He has appeared in over thirty feature films and on television, hosted fundraiser events for charities such as; The Firefighters, sports programs for under-privileged kids,
various law enforcement organizations,
drug prevention programs, and the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. He has worked as a professional photographer, specializing in portraits, modeling portfolios, and architectural landscapes.
As for D.R.'s Tribute to country music's legendary Conway Twitty, he had this to say "I thought about this tribute for over six years. I was not going to do the tribute
even when I received many requests from Conway's fans who wanted me to. It was late November of 2000, when one of Twitty's fans came over to me at a social gathering and asked 'I would like to know why you won't do a music tribute to Conway? Why won't you do this for his fans?' I said to her 'no one will ever be as great as Conway.' She
interrupted with tears in her eyes and said most of all of Conway's fans would like to see
someone bring his memory and music to life again - and only you can do this for us the way we remember Conway.'
On September 7, 2001, standing alone on stage in front of a modest gathering of music fans and professional entertainers, D.R. performed his
first "Farewell Tribute" to Conway Twitty. Just the way the fans would remember him. For the City of Phoenix Los Olivos Senior Center at an event called Coffee House. |
