Don de Leaumont

I'm Don de Leaumont. I'm a folksinger. I write folk songs. I didn't always write and play folk music. Much like most of the folkies my age, I grew up listening to classic rock, punk and heavy metal music. Hell, I even played in a heavy metal band. Then how did I get into folk music as I got older?
Well, it aint brain surgery. As a kid, I was around music constantly. My parents were always listening to folk music. Joni Mitchel, CSNY, Joan Baez, Buffy St. Marie, The Kingston Trio, you name it. If it was folk, they had it. As I got older, I got into "my own thing". Heavy Metal. If it was heavy, I liked it. Iron Maiden, Dio, KISS, Motorhead, you name it. I even played in an Atlanta based metal band called Rachael's Dead.
I finished off high school (10th-12th grade) in Jonesboro, GA. I had some great friends. We had metal bands, went to concerts, it was all good. But we all hit an age where we all started to go thru life changes. My life just seemed to be carrying me in another direction. In 1994, I needed a change and left music behind for almost a year. In 1995, I re-discovered my dad's folk albums from acts like Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, Buffy St. Marie, Joan Baez, and suddenly, it all started to make sense to me. Not long after I heard Dave Matthews, Phish and The Grateful Dead for the first time and for the first time, I was listening to music that talked TO me, not at or over me. I then set out on a journey to not only find my own self but my artistic and musical self as well.
I started writing songs and hanging out at the Red Light Cafe Open Mic Night in Atlanta. This is where I met many new friends and embarked on my new life path. I performed all over Atlanta with friends as a solo folksinger/songwriter and for the first time in my life felt as if I was doing something with a purpose. I was also singing for the first time so using my own voice to express myself was a whole new territory.
In 1999, I moved to North Carolina with my beautiful partner Lizzi and my musical adventures continued on. I met a talented singer/songwriter by the name of Bert Wray and he inspired me and challenged me in ways I truly needed. We started doing shows together and formed a bluegrass/folk duo called "The Back Porch Prophets". After 3 1/2 great years there, we relocated to the triangle area of of North Carolina.
So here I am! I currently reside in Durham, NC w/ my gorgeous and supportive partner of 10 years. I am currently putting a band together to give the songs that I have been writing all these years the life that I feel they deserve. People have been asking me forever when I would put a band together to do these songs. Well, now it's on it's way and all is good. What can I say? Life has been good to me. It's a journey and an adventure. I have met some amazing people along the way I hope to continue to do so.
As Gregg Allman sings, "...the road goes on forever...". Might as well enjoy the ride!
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