Don began to study jazz piano and compose around the age of 13 and had his own original jazz group in high school. In college he studied composition with Wayne Peterson, Fred Fox, and Ton De Leeuw at the Amsterdam Conservatory and then with Terry Riley at Mills College.

He studied with North Indian Master Vocalist, Pandit Pran Nath from 1974 to 1990. Don has written music for a variety of settings. He has played professionally in the classical, jazz and gospel genres since the early 1960’s. he has taught music at Ohlone College since 1990. The range of subject Don instructs include theory, musicianship, sight singing, classical piano, jazz piano, jazz vocal and instrumental ensembles. Don also teaches jazz piano at Cal State University East Bay. Don is also the organist for Corpus Christ Catholic Church in the Niles area where he lives with his daughter Karen.