Q&A with Musician Don Gabriel
Drummer Don Gabriel has been beating the skins into his sixth decade now, since first picking up the sticks in grade school in Wathena, Kansas, in the 1960’s. After playing with local bands in this area, he worked as a full-time musician in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years before coming back home. He did some rough math, factoring in performing six nights a week for several long stretches, and conservatively estimates he has over 24,000 hours on stage! He is often seen at River Bluff Brewing, where he frequents a corner stool at the bar.
Q: Can you give us a rundown of some of the bands you were with over the years?
Don: Gypsy River was a local band I started with. We played in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska. Then Evans Creek Road took me to Oregon. I spent several years up there with Jacob’s Ladder, as well as a few with Beaver and the Dam Band. I spent some time with Johnny Green and the Green Men toward the end of their run. Early on, they had a guest spot on the Batman TV show and eventually went into the Rock Hall of Fame. I played with a lot of others, too, including a lot of really good players.
Q: What were some of your most memorable shows?
Don: Playing the MGM Grand in Reno was pretty cool! That was the matching tuxedo period. We had our name on the marquee. We also did a USO tour through Alaska around that time, that was wild! The Coast Guard flew us all around. We saw some cool stuff and got to play for some folks who were really excited for the entertainment.
Q: Where are you playing these days?
Don: Oh, I still jam now and again. It’s always a pleasure to sit in with talented people, but it has to be a special occasion for me to haul-set up-play- breakdown and haul home a set of drums anymore. That’s not to say I won’t do it, but I don’t chase the opportunities like I did in the day. But I still love it! I always will!
It was a great life. Whether staying in luxury hotels or living for a while in my van. Long hair. Livin’ it up. Getting paid to rock out with my friends every night!
I still have some pictures and some tapes I’ve been converting to digital. I enjoy listening to the songs and remembering how it felt when we made them. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.
