Donnie Gililland

Donnie Gililland was born and raised in Dallas. As a child he took a few guitar lessons at a local music store but gave up on the lessons in favor of teaching himself while learning tunes from the radio and recordings. He played his first professional job at age fifteen.

While attending Adamson High School he played in local clubs with the legendary Buster Smith which gave him great exposure resulting in employment with David "Fathead" Newman and Leroy Cooper who were becoming mainstays with the Ray Charles orchestra. In 1959 he enrolled at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) joining the famous 1:00 Lab Band. His experience with the 1:00 band provided him with opportunities to learn from visiting special guest artists such as Stan Kenton, Donald Byrd, Buddy DeFranco, Johnny Richards and future stars such as Marvin Stamm and Lou Marini. While playing with the band for 3 1/2 years he developed a close friendship with world renowned jazz guitarist Jack Peterson. Together they shared ideas and recordings while nurturing their individual artistic styles. Donnie has performed at countless jazz and commercial venues in the Dallas area such as the _Strictly Tabu_ and the _8.0 Bar_ with vibraphonist Ed Hagan.

His craft and artistic taste both as soloist and accompanist as earned him the "backup chair" for several local jazz vocalists who find comfort with his plush voicings and the ability to assume a musical supportive role. When Joyce Wilson booked her Las Vegas, Sahara Hotel engagement she added Donnie to her rhythm so he could add some seasoning to the band with "harmonic class for the ballads and explosive energy for the swing tunes".

For several years Donnie teamed up with Dan Hollis as the featured duo with The Mesquite Jazz Repertory Ensemble. With funding provided by the Mesquite Arts Council and special arrangements written by the bands' director Curtis Bradshaw, Donnie and Dan played to packed houses on the _Celebration Spring, Together Again_ annual concert with vocalist Sandra Kaye and jazz saxophonist Marchel Ivery. The Mesquite, Texas jazz audience has not been able to get enough of this dynamic duo and demanded frequent quartet appearances on the _Mesquite Jazz On The Plaza _summer series with drummer Jack Allday and bassist Alex Kemp. Buy XenicalBuy Xanax Buy Phentermine mp3 players Buy Phentermine mp3 player Buy Cheap Phentermine Penis Enlargement Cialis Buy Cialis