The Early Years

Baby Years

Donnie was born in Ashland, Illinois on September 18, 1962 to parents Gene and Rose Isenhower...the only boy among 4 sisters; Betty, Bev, Jeanie & Bonnie.

"I guess I was about four years old when I first began to play the guitar. My older sister, Jeanie, had a guitar and she told me it was hers and I was never to touch it! Well, as you can guess, curiosity and rebellion got the better of me and the challenge had been made."

By the time Donnie was twelve years old,  he had his first professional playing job with a band called Night Life in Jacksonville, IL. Bill and Janet Meyer were a "husband and wife" performing team and had been playing duo's throughout central Illinois. Bill played drums and Janet played keyboards. This was before the day of sequencers and rhythm tracks. Janet played pedal Bass, keys and was the lead singer. When Donnie joined the group and they became a trio, it took a lot of the load off of her shoulders.

Donnie has four sisters, 3 older and 1 younger. His sisters Betty, Bev and Bonnie all live in Springfield, IL. His sister Jeanie made her home in Texas. "We still try to get together every year for the holidays. It is a time I look forward to every year!"

Donnie's mother lives with his sister Bonnie in Springfield, IL. She helps Bonnie with the house and her children. Donnie's parents separated when he was fourteen years of age and Donnie lived with his father and stepmother (Grandma Vivi) and graduated Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, IL in 1980.

After a few years of "finding himself", Donnie moved to Branson, MO in 1982, one month before his twentieth birthday, and has made his home there ever since.