Music
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Discography
"Sunny Afternoons" (Laurie Records, 1981)
"The Guys" (Wizmak Records, 1991)
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Bio
Born and raised in New York, Don Lombardi was influenced by virtually every type of music he heard on the radio, in church and on the streets; but it was the songs and performances of The Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Jim Croce and Bill Withers that formed the core of Don's songwriting and performance style.
He started writing songs in his early teens, teaching himself the guitar and honing his vocal skills that began in church as a boy. During the 1960s and 70s and throughout his military service, he performed anywhere he could; from the United States, to Europe and in Southeast Asia.
During the 1980s, Don joined the Hudson Valley Folk Guild in New York and it was during his tenure as both a member, and chapter president that Don wrote some of his best songs. He continued to improve his songwriting skills by studying both his contemporaries and the artists he admired.
In 2001, Don was honored by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, when one of his songs, “The Guys” was selected as part of the "Music of the Vietnam War" collection in the Archive of Folk Culture, and with that, it immortalized what began as a letter home to his mother from Vietnam where Don was serving as a combat soldier. The context of the letter told his mother he was alright, and that a group of guys were looking out for him. Later at the urging of friends, the letter became the song and a tribute to those he served with in Vietnam.
Among his other compositions are "Here's my Heart", which describes the apprehension that comes with starting a new relationship. "High Flying Ride" celebrates Don's love for flying and the lilting gentle ballad "Free as the Wind" remains his favorite.
Realizing that the cover songs by his favorite artists are the foundation of his performance style, he includes them in his live shows; thus, paying homage to the artists he considers his “teachers”.
His performance credits include sharing the stage with Kris Kristofferson, Tom Paxton, Bill Staines, Cheryl Wheeler, Leon Russell, Mary Travers and Kenny Rankin.
His early recordings are no longer available, but a full length CD with Don's early and current material is scheduled for release in 2009.
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