Tom Paxton and The DonJuans

The DonJuans – Don Henry & Jon Vezner – join Tom on stage, and the show these three masters present is will be a lifetime memory for all of us who can attend.

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JON VEZNER: Grammy award-winning songwriter, Nashville-based Jon Vezner is a tunesmith of rare sensitivity and dry wit. His catalogue of recorded songs, topped by the poignant Where’ve You Been reflects his straight-to-the-heart sensibility and emotional awareness. Vezner weaves the particulars of his own feelings with the lives of people he has known into universal themes that deeply touch listeners’ emotions.

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Vezner was honored with a Grammy for Best Country Song and the Nashville Songwriters Association Song of the Year in 1990, for Where’ve You Been — the true story of Vezner’s grandparents — co-written with Don Henry, and recorded by Kathy Mattea. Where’ve You Been was also honored as Song of the Year by the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). Jon was also voted Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

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Born in Minnesota, he began his musical career as lead singer and bassist for various groups in high school, going on to earn a B.A. degree in music education and music theory at Minnesota Southwest State University in the mid ′70s. Jon’s catalogue of songs reads like a songbook itself, interpreted and recorded by some of the greats in the business such as Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Steve Wariner, The Wiggins, Clay Walker, Diamond Rio, BJ Thomas, Janis Ian, John Mellencamp, Nancy Griffith, Judy Collins, and Native American recording artist, Bill Miller, to name a few. Jon’s production credits include artists such as Danny O’Keefe, Victoria Shaw, and singing legend Patti Page.

Jon Vezner writes about the details, the details of our hearts and feelings. His gift is in speaking to these ordinary things which connect us to one another. And in recognizing their simple beauty, he transforms them into something extraordinary. — Mary-Chapin Carpenter

DON HENRY: In Morgan Hill, California in the early 70’s, records like The Band by The Band and Honky Chateau by Elton John prompted Don Henry to begin writing his own lyrics to Jim Croce melodies. Then he learned to play guitar with a Paul Simon songbook. After that it was an education in The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Harry Nilsson, Carole King, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell. Then Randy Newman’s Good Old Boys and Old Number One by Guy Clark changed his life. In April of 1979, at 19, Don made his way to Nashville. After spending 4 years as the tape copy/librarian for Tree Publishing Company, cataloging some of the best songs by some of the best songwriters in Nashville (Sonny Throckmorton, Bobby Braddock, Harlan Howard, and Curly Putman), Don’s own songs started getting recorded and he was moved to full-time staff songwriter. Ray Charles, Conway Twitty, the Oak Ridge Boys, T.G. Sheppard, John Conlee and Kathy Mattea are just a few who recorded Don’s songs during this period.

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In 1990, Don and Jon Vezner received song of the year awards for co-writing Mattea’s critically acclaimed hit, Where’ve You Been. Awards from the Grammys, as well as from the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International culminated it Where’ve You Been becoming the first song ever to be so honored by all four organizations. In 1991, Wild In The Backyard was released on Sony/Epic Records. Billboard’s Ken Schlager chose the debut album as one of 1991’s Top Ten records, as did Larry McClain of BAM magazine. Rolling Stone liked it enough to profile Don in their New Faces column. Since, Don’s songs have been recorded by Lonestar, Rosie Flores, The Thompson Brothers Band, Bryan White, and Blake Shelton. A 2001 release, Flowers and Rockets, was followed quickly by Live At The Bluebird Café. In 2013 Miranda Lambert had a hit with Don and Phillip Coleman’s song All Kinds Of Kinds.

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At Don’s shows, you’ll easily spot those who have yet to hear his songs. Upon first experiencing them, the listener is often moved to laughter or tears, sometimes both at the same time! And everyone leaves humming, because Don Henry songs stay with you.