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To make music which is uniquely your own - that's what Donald Lewis King strives for. His musical influences are as eclectic as his music is dynamic and includes artists such as Genesis, Yes, Tchaicovsky, Debussy, Mozart, Elton John, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Spiro Gyra and David Arkenstone.
King inherited his love for music from his great-grandmother, who taught him to read music. "I first started making music at the age of 10 on an old acoustic guitar with two strings, a warped neck and a hole in the back."
From 1975 through 1991, King was in a variety of bands as he continued to study. "I learned to develop a piece of music, not as a series of notes and chords, but as a complete artistic statement. My most memorable band was called Elijah, which performed all originals and comprised my first real experience of ensemble musicianship." During Elijah's three-year run, King was able to boldly experiment with the sound and feel of the music.
Playing in subsequent cover tune bands discouraged him and stifled his artistic expression. But in 1993, King regained his inspiration by discovering other artists who compose their own music and produce their own recordings. "It reminded me that there was music inside that was begging to be heard."
King has found his musical voice. Sonic Alchemy, his first CD, was completed in 2002 and is a culmination of what he has learned, what he can play, and who he is. He is currently busy composing and producing his next CD- tentatively called Fusionata (And Other Caffeine Inspired Creations).
While Donald Lewis King enjoys collaborating with other musicians, the years have taught him that his own, unique vision can be heard. "I can still pick up my old two-string guitar and make music."
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