Don is a man of firsts -- the first host of American Country Countdown and the first Country Music Association Comedian of the Year.

As a disc jockey, Don began and ended his career playing country music.  His first announcing positions were at KDUB and KLLL in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas.  His most recent announcing position was at KRZK in Branson, Missouri.  In between, there were stints in various markets including San Diego (KDEO), the Bay Area (KEWB), the Twin Cities (KDWB) and Nashville (WKDA).  He was the original host of American Country Countdown (ACC) from 1973 through 1978.

As a songwriter, Don is best known for co-writing Just To Satisfy You and Wildwood Weed.  He first dabbled in songwriting as a D.J..  

As a singer, Don began his recording career with Coward of the Alamo on La Gree in 1961. The 45 received some action and led to a recording contract with RCA which resulted in eight album releases between 1964 and 1970.   His biggest single to date is Chit Akins, Make Me A Star which spent four months on the country charts in 1964 peaking at #7 (Cash Box) and #14 (Billboard).  Other singles of note include Dear Harlan Howard, Giddyup Do-Nut, For Loving You with Skeeter Davis, Folsom Prison Blues #2, and Poor Old Ugly Gladys Jones with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Bobby Bare.  His highest charting albums to date are Our Man in Trouble and Funny Way To Make An Album.   He subsequently recorded for Mega, Lone Star, and Lard Bucket.

As a comedian, Don has appeared on the big screen, the small screen, on stage, and on record.  He played Jeepers in a pair of motion pictures -- The Las Vegas Hillbillys and Hillbillys in a Hanuted House.  He was the comedian on the syndicated Bill Anderson Show.  He also portrayed Seemore Miles when he opened shows for Moe Bandy in Branson.  He received the inaugural award as Comedian of the Year from the Country Music Association (CMA) getting the nod over fellow parodists, Ben Colder and Homer & Jethro in 1967 after receiving the Favorite Country Comedy Recording Artist Award at the 1966 Billboard Country Awards from Roy Acuff.

Don also played an important role in Waylon Jennings getting recording contracts with A&M as well as RCA and came up with the moniker Whisperin' for Bill Anderson.