Don Irving

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Don Irving
Birth nameDonald Jay Irving
Born (1946-09-09) September 9, 1946 (age 76)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Genres Folk rock, pop rock
Occupation(s)Guitarist
Years active1965–present

Donald Jay Irving (born September 9, 1946) is an American musician, best known as a guitarist for rock band The Beau Brummels. He was a member of the band for their Beau Brummels '66 album and joined a revamped lineup for a 2002 concert tour.

History

Don Irving, the son of a career military man, spent his early childhood in Germany before returning to California at age nine. [1] His first band was The Showmen, where he played with Butch Engle, later of Butch Engle & the Styx. [1] Irving then joined The Opposite Six, which featured Bill Champlin and two other future members of the Sons of Champlin. [1] In 1965, he played on demos composed by Beau Brummels' lead vocalist, Sal Valentino. [1] Touring had heightened tensions within the Beau Brummels and led to the departure of Declan Mulligan. [2] Later that year, guitarist Ron Elliott was no longer able to perform live after suffering seizures from his diabetic condition. [1] Elliott's father, who managed the Brummels as well as the Styx, was recommended by Engle to recruit Irving as a temporary replacement on the road. [1] [2] Irving became a permanent member in early 1966, and he performed on the band's third album—and first on Warner Bros. Records— Beau Brummels '66 . [1] He also played on the band's single, "One Too Many Mornings", a Bob Dylan cover. [1] Drummer John Petersen recalled, "Irving was really cool. He played all of Elliott's licks perfectly. By then we had three albums and we were still a good draw but the vibes in the band weren't healthy. It was really strained. I would go out to Laurel Canyon and people weren't talking to each other. By the time we got sold to Warner Brothers, we weren't the same band anymore". [2] Following the album's release, Petersen quit the band to join Harpers Bizarre, [3] and Irving left when he received an induction notice into the armed forces. [1] In 2002, Irving joined original members Valentino and Ron Meagher for a concert tour. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Eder, Bruce. "Don Irving – Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 March, Jeff; Childs, Marti (1999). Echoes of the Sixties. New York: Billboard Books (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). pp. 136, 151. ISBN   978-0-8230-8316-9.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955–2006 (11th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research. p. 69. ISBN   978-0-89820-172-7.
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