DONNY AND FASTGUN

Donny and Fastgun When you combine southern rock riffs with subtle country pop, you get what has been referred to as “Desert Music". Donny and Fastgun is the lovechild of Donny Barthelemy. Originally from York, PA, twenty miles North of the Mason Dixon Line, Donny bought his first guitar at a pawnshop at age 14. His first musical teacher/guru was Gus Backus of the Del Vikings. "He taught me how to tune the guitar, and some chords and also showed me the beauty of writing your own so...

Donny and Fastgun When you combine southern rock riffs with subtle country pop, you get what has been referred to as “Desert Music". Donny and Fastgun is the lovechild of Donny Barthelemy. Originally from York, PA, twenty miles North of the Mason Dixon Line, Donny bought his first guitar at a pawnshop at age 14. His first musical teacher/guru was Gus Backus of the Del Vikings. "He taught me how to tune the guitar, and some chords and also showed me the beauty of writing your own songs," remarks Donny. Donny played music all through high school, then spent three years in the Army, during which he played guitar and sang in a 15 piece jazz/rock/country band called Uncle Sam that toured "Planet Texas.” His first big concert, at the age of 20, was opening for Lou Rawls in front of 10,000 people. “My knees were knocking" remembers Donny. After the Army, Donny decided to focus all of his energies on forming his own band, Fastgun, a country rock group. Fastgun played concerts with Merle Haggard, hung out on the BUS with Willie Nelson, recorded a CD, had a part in a movie and won numerous awards including 'Best Male Vocalist and Male Entertainer of the Year' for the State of California in Country Music. In addition to Donny, Fastgun is "Babs," his wife, on vocals, Keith MacBay on drums and vocals, Michael Tucson,on boards and vocals, Ron Barton on Bass.They won the local Tampa Bay "Colgate Country Showdown" and were featured twice on Channel 10 performing their songs. “Arizona Blue” has been on the independentmusicnetwork.com Country Charts for over a year, with almost 120,000 accumulative votes! In 2010 they were asked to play Journeyfest, with Charlie Daniels. Donny and Fastgun have shared the stage with Jewel, Toby Keith,Dan Seals, David Allan Coe and Dickey Betts.