Donald Albert Barthelemy was born on September 6
in York, PA., twenty miles North of the Mason Dixon Line.
Donny bought his first guitar at a pawnshop at age 14, nothing
unusual really for most singer/songwriters, except for the fact that
Donny’s first musical teacher/guru was none other than ‘Gus Backus’
of the ‘Del Vikings’. “He taught me how to tune the guitar, and some
chords and also showed me the beauty of writing your own songs,â€
remarks Barthelemy.After playing music in High School, He then got married to Barbara Louise Laird, his "High School Sweetheart". Donny did a three year hitch in
the Army, where they had two Beautiful children, Melissa Anne, and Donald Eric. He played guitar and sang in a 15 piece Jazz/Rock/Country band called "Uncle Sam" that toured "Planet Texas" . His first big concert at the age of 20, was opening for Lou Rawls, in front of 10,000 people, "my knees were knocking" he said. Within a few months Donny had recievied orders for Korea, without his Family.Upon returning home from Korea, Donny decided to focus all of his energies on forming his own band ‘FASTGUN’, a Country Rock Group from the Great Southwest. Donny also auditioned for the TV show "You Can Be A Star", where he was chosen to be a contestant. After taping in Nashville, the Producer contacted Donny to be on the show. A few weeks later Donny
was notified the Show had been cancelled. The video of the audition of his
Original songs were locked in a Vault.FASTGUN played concerts with Merle Haggard, hung out with Willie Nelson, recorded an all original CD which received Local and International airplay, had a part in a movie and won numerous awards including ‘Best Male Vocalist and Male Entertainer of the Year’ for the State of California in Country
Music. “After taking that version FASTGUN as far as we could (including major
abel interest) we decided to disband after 10 years, and were very
proud of our accomplishments,†says Barthelemy.Donny then took some time off from the music business to spend time with his family. Donny has worked different jobs over the years, from baling hay, to construction work, Line Cook, office supply salesman, Hotel Manager." Whatever it took to put bread on our table" was his quote, while still holding on to his Dream; writing songs, singing and playing his guitar.
Since relocating to Florida, a place he’s called home throughout his life, Donny, has written another album, and has put together another
amazing version of FASTGUN, with "Babs", his wife, on vocals, Keith Macbay on drums and vocals, Ted Feinman ..boards and vocals, Art Titus, on bass and vocals. They won the local Tampa Bay "Colgate Country Showdown", and they were featured on Channel 10,(local TV) performing his songs "Arizona Blue" and "Ain't No Cowboys in N.Y.C." Oh, by the way, Arizona Blue has been on the independentmusicnetwork.com Country Charts for over a year , with almost 100,000 accumulative votes! Most recently opened up for David Allan Coe, and Dickey Betts.Donny Barthelemy and Fastgun are currently performing at a Concert near you!!!
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