Don Heffington


Don Heffington is an American drummer, percussionist, and songwriter. He is known for his solo albums, his work with Lone Justice, and his extensive touring and session work with artists such as Lowell George, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, and Victoria Williams.

Biography

Early years

Heffington grew up in a musical family in Los Angeles. His grandmother played drums and his mother played upright bass, and they passed on their enthusiasm for jazz to Heffington. Then Bob Dylan's album Bringing It All Back Home broadened his musical scope to include rock and roll music. As a teen, Heffington joined a jazz band, The Doug Morris Quintet, on drums.
Heffington was drummer for Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, playing on the 1983 album White Shoes.

Lone Justice

Heffington was a member of the first incarnation of Lone Justice, along with Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, and Marvin Etzioni. Heffington was with the band from 1982 until 1985.

Watkins Family Hour

Heffington is a member of the Watkins Family Hour, led by Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins. Other members include Sebastian Steinberg, Greg Leisz, Benmont Tench, and David Garza.

Performing and recording

Heffington has played and/or recorded with many artists, including Dave Alvin, Peter Case, Vic Chesnutt, Delia Bell, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Kathleen Edwards, Lowell George, the Jayhawks, Rickie Lee Jones, Sam Phillips, Ron Sexsmith, Percy Sledge, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, the Wallflowers, Lucinda Williams, and Dwight Yoakam.

Solo and collaborative albums

In 1995, Heffington and fiddler Tammy Rogers collaborated on the mostly instrumental In the Red.
On his first solo album Gloryland, Heffington played most of the instruments and recorded with engineer David Vaught.
Contemporary Abstractions in Folk Song and Dance, released in 2015, was recorded live with Heffington, Tim Young and Sebastian Steinberg. Heffington performs as part of the Don Heffington Group with Tim Young, and Sebastian Steinberg.

Discography

Recordings

1983 - 1995