A Tribute to Don Mason

Someone mentioned Don's talent a few days ago. I have so much music on my hard drive, I don't know what to listen to anymore. Luckily, I can just type in Don Mason and pull them all up. Which is what I did.

He really IS very talented. It all comes together for him. Voice, playing, guitar emulation, picking songs that please the listener, presentation, personality.....and.....he's got good posture too!!!

I labeled my folder The Best of Don Mason and inserted the following favorite songs of mine that were posted over the years.

Loving Arms (If You Could See Me Now)
An Empty Glass
11 Months and 29 Days
Matchbox
That’s Alright, Mama
You’ve Got A Friend
Baby Doll
Burning Bridges
Mustang Sally
Stand By Me
The Thrill is Gone

Sorry Don....if you want any of them back, you have to make a hefty contribution to the "One Man Band Retirement Fund."

Mark, I am very flattered that you liked my stuff enough to actually KEEP it and replay it!
Thanks my friend!

Great to see it's not only me that collect Don M's songs.
Don know I'm a long time BIG fan, and that I play his songs at the stereo when driving.

Means a lot to me, GJ! There are lots of better players and singers than I am, but no one is more appreciative of the opportunity to play music or has more fun doing it!

Don....perdoneme....I forgot to add "humble" to your description! And BTW, I'm nominating you for a place in the Synthzone Hall of Fame. Each nominee gets awarded a golf club that, no matter how you hit it, it only scores "holes in one."

You forgot to mention knowledgeable. He knows much about his boards, as well as many other things.

My pleasure Don.

Your heart for the music is mirrored well in your performances,
and besides that, there is only one and only Don M, no other play it like you do.

Tried to copy your eminent guitar playing, but I'm not even close.
Most be something wrong with my keyboards ...

We must be careful not to inflate his ego too much – you know how he is.

John C.

Oh, but he hides it very well.

Love Your Talent Don...You are killer on those guitars...Harold

I also down loaded a lot of Dons songs and I listen to them a lot . Cal

Let me just say you haven't lived till you performed on the same stage as Don Mason a memory I will cherish the rest of my life good times I hope to do again!

I think that his music takes second place to his genuine, pleasant, admirable hospitality. A great person and friend right off the bat. I love the man and his wonderful wife and family too. If only I lived close enough, I'd play my sax with him whenever he'd ask for free.

Would love to be in the same room with both of these "Giants" when they are jammin'.............

I'm very happy to be at the same planet as those legends.

Although I wasn't there I did buy from the late Joe Richards the jam on DVD. Great show to say the least.

Legend??!! I wish someone would tell my wife that!
It is very nice of you all to say such fantastic things. I greatly enjoyed playing with many of our members here and I thought they all were great. Everyone has his strong points and I haven't met anyone here who is not a truly good person, no matter how hard some of us try to hide it.

When Don had the first SZ jam in Shreveport several hurricanes ago, I flew from West Palm Beach to Dallas, rented a car, booked a room in Shreveport and spent and enjoyable afternoon watching, learning from and playing with Don, several of his local friends and other SZers who came in for the event. Don was, very much, the gracious host and made sure everyone met each other and got to play. Yaah....I think of him as a legend. He is the only 6'5" legend I know that ALWAYS wears a black cowboy hat.
Thanks Don. Your personal performances, MP3s and YouTube videos and helpful phone conversations have been a major influence on me and many others here in the Zone.
Eddie

Over the years, I've met lots of legends, some of which are here. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them have passed away. Glad there are still a few around.

All the best,

Gary

I recognize our "Southern Gentleman" (Don M) and our "Chairman of the Board" (Gary D)........ Who are the others starting from Gary?

I would like to put the face with the name ....

Ron

Gary Diamond
Joe Lee Richards (RIP)
Bill Pittman (SemiLive Music)
Me
Dickie Turner (Yamaha PSR S950 and PA4X) from Shreveport
Jay Riseden

I'm going to add something else here.

I've talked to Don a few times myself on the phone and we had fairly lengthy conversations about music and everything else. I'm amazed at what he's done with his music career over the years. Just about everything except singing telegrams and selling encyclopedias.

And Gary too. I take note of everything he's done both inside and outside the music box and all the different roles he's played in his lifetime.

I have to admire the both of you guys......you're both colorful characters.......and.....I don't think either of you knows how "colorful" you actually are.

Now I'm going to have to send you each a wheelbarrow to carry your head in it from now on.

Don........that's not THE Dickie that used to post here regularly, is it? The last guy's name is Gary in case you haven't figured it out yet!

a few clips from the Shreveport Jam DVD..







Lets do it again Don!!

About 10 years ago my wife and I went to Dallas TX for the wedding of the son of a good friend of ours ...
I felt it was perhaps a once in a life time opportunity to see Don at Ernest's so we got into Dallas a couple of days early and drove to Shreveport and met up with Don, Susan, Bill (Semi-Live) and Hank ... it was an honor to share the stage with Don, Bill, and Hank and it is an evening Lydia and I will never forget ...
I only wish I lived closer ... as I've said before, Don is one of the people on this board that I would PAY to see perform ...
A tip of the cap to Mr. Mason ...

No you are thinking about Diki.
Gary is on the right facing us. The other guy is Jay Riseden from Texas.

Don has earned every complimentary word.

R.

+ 1

AND, I've made hundreds of dollars in the music business!
Seriously, you guys are really nice or really crazy or in most cases both.