Don Kelley - Nashville's Greatest Bandleader & Trainer to the Telecaster Titans - Truetone Lounge 

The best Truetone ever! Thank you for finally nailing him down for an interview.

I talked with Don one night at Robert's and he was so proud of the phenomenal guitarists that played in his band. You could hear it in his voice when you asked questions about specific players. I never heard a bad set whenever I saw Don's band in Nashville.

So I can’t tell you the times I drove from Chattanooga to Nashville after work for one reason… to see the Don Kelley band on Broadway. I didn’t have the money to spend the night so I’d drive back home at 1-2am. Good run Don! -Anthony @ Lucky Dog Guitars

Don Kelley is a Jewell! Fascinating interview..

Don at Robert's was the highlight of my trips to Nashville! Loved his humor!" My kids need... cigarettes! Nah, I don't have any kids....I hate kids!" Cracked me up every time!

And I almost forgot to mention, Zac Childs is so skilled at bringing the best out of the guests. This is as much an art as performing music and Zac deserves to be credited. Great work, Zac!!!

The man here in Nashville. He deserves this!

Now this was an afternoon, well spent. The Don Kelley mysteries solved. The bandleader who helped several generations of real Musicians get their Nashville "Sea legs" Happy days in North Florida Don- May all the good you have done come back to you, and the bad-scrape off your Soles !

I’m actually newer to country music but my entry into it was when a local producer pulled up JD Simo playing with the Don Kelley band and from there I found Guthrie and the rest is history. This show has also increased my knowledge tenfold. Thanks 🙏🏻

What a fabulous discussion. Don must write his life experience as it is super entertaining and important music history. Let’s get er done. Thanks for all you are doing. Yes, and “every good boy and girl deserves a Telecaster”! Tom

Anyone else here because of the Red Volkaert interview? How have I never heard of this guy before?

Thanks for this......this man was a "hard working" man at Roberts.....always enjoyed...a real professional. "Take that Kenny Chesney"...... What was better than a yuengling and a fried bologna sandwich and the Don Kelley Band at Roberts? "How much for extra meat?" I asked. The cook thought for a moment...."Nothing". Great place back then.

This was absolutely amazing! To hear Don tell his story was awesome. I could listen to this all day

One of your best interviews. Watching it for the third time.

It’s Don’s fault that for so many years when I visited Nashville, that I never saw any other band but his, at Roberts. I would plan to hit a few bars, but just ended up at Roberts for 4 hours prior, and a few hours after his set. And the guys that carry on his tradition are simply amazing! Cheers y’all!

Not a musician but build instruments in my retirement and love ❤ these interviews.

ZAC!!! The interviews are always stellar... but this one really connected so many dots for those that have followed the Truetone Lounge conversations. What impressed me the most was this was not only a masterclass on music and bands, but really on life, leadership and building/fostering relationships. So much value here not only for a musician, but for humanity in general. THANKS for the amazing collaboration and historical share!!

Some of the most fun I’ve had listening to stories in a long time. Grinning ear to ear through it all. Thank you, Zach for bringing us this one.

Thank you so much for this chance to be INTRODUCED to one of the great old Band Leader..!! These Stories are priceless..!! I am astounded..!! THANK YOU..!!

For anyone that knows, this man is an actual living legend. If you love music of at all, when he speaks, you listen.

What a legacy, so inspirational and a hell of a storyteller

That was great hearing Don. Go on. You can tell he's loved by alot of the players he helped thus the years! Thank you Zack

Don and his Band completely changed my life and opened up my mind to the possibilities with country music. Thank you so much for doing this interview! I’ve spent years scouring the internet for Don’s history and the guitar player lineage. So awesome to hear these accounts from the man himself!

wonderful interview! he mentioned buggs henderson, a hero of mine that i finally got to play with many years ago after i'd quit gigging. kelley is a great story. needs to be a movie.

wow, I've been waiting for this one. seen Don numerous times live and always wanted to pick his brain. Thanks Zac!

Wow Zac, That was amazing. I'm all the way over in Tasmania and I've watched a heap of your stuff. But this guy!!! Man that was riveting. Sometime my wife will come in and say. What are you wasting your time watching this stuff for? I said sit and watch this for 10 minutes , If you like it you can buy me a carton of beer. Guess what? Cheers

My first year in Nashville I worked the door at Robert’s. I watched him run a band many nights, and learned more in that year than I had ever learned watching local bands back in Alabama/Florida. I run my band better on stage today because I got to watch that man do it every night. Just don’t dance too close to the tip jar! Haha I’ll always be thankful for the opportunity to get to watch him every night. So thankful y’all made this and we all get to hear his story.

I made a trip to Nashville many years ago, and I have to say Don Kelley's band at Roberts was the highlight of the entire trip. Guthrie on guitar one night and James Mitchell the next. Man, what a super talented bunch. Cheers Don! .. all the best and thanks for the great shows.

Thank you for this. It has been a wonderful experience to get to know Don in such a relaxed setting. The stories and the scope of his life as the leader of the Don Kelley Band. I wish Kelley's Heroes all the best. Maybe I get to get out to Nashville and see them play. Again, this was wonderful!

I'm not usually one for 2 hour interviews, but this one left me wanting more! Don is such a legend, I could listen to his stories all day. A sincere thanks for posting this! And if anybody is interested, there is a terrific video on yt of Luke and his dad performing "it hurts me too". Not sure about posting links, but it's easy enough to find. One of my favorite versions of a classic!

I liked as he talked about his beginning while holding that picture frame as if he was looking into the picture back in time.

That was just great.❤ I laughed and cried😂

That was a great interview, what a character.

Great interview with one of the greats!

Really GUUD.Truly Worthwhile.

I visited Nashville several years ago and when I got to Main Street I asked who should I see and without hesitation they said Don Kelly at Robert's. I walked into a standing room only crowd as they were playing "The Weight" and Daniel Donato was ripping out a great solo.

loved seeing Kenny Vaughan when he played with him as well.....

Johnny Hiland is a gem. I once got an impromptu lesson from him over the phone!! And I never realized he is a multi-instrumentalist. As usual Zac - your interviewing skills are top-shelf.

Excellent, thoroughly enjoyable, thank you!

This was the absolute greatest interview I have ever watched. Thank you Zac for these memories. Don, the man, the legend.

Many cold Yuengling's watching different iterations of the Don Kelley Band. My time started with Johnny Hilland, JD, Guthrie, Daniel Donato and Luke. I never missed the opportunity to see them when in town. Some of my best memories of Nashville were from live the stage at Roberts. Thank you Don and fellow musicians. You continue to inspire me and countless others.

frickin awesome. i woulda listened to to the long version!

THE GREAT DON KELLEY! ABSOLUTE LEGEND OF LOWER BROADWAY!!!

One of your best interviews! Don Kelley is a Nashville institution.

This is the best one you've done. This video will be watched a lot!

Ive been coming to hear Don Kelley since early 80s and ive said it for years that there should be a Don Kelley day here in Nashville for all the phenomenal guitarists he turned out .he could spot talent and knew how to turn them into master guitarists .His contribution to the music industry is so huge but underrrated .He is the king .Hes a great player himself .most importantly hes a great person .This man is something special .Glad hes getting the recognition finally .Thanks Don Kelley for all youve given us over the years .

Good to hear Darrell Puett mentioned. I've shared the stage with his son Griffin many times

What a wonderful interview it takes me back years.

I love this interview!!

Absolutely amazing!! Thank you so much to this 🙏🏻

Now that was an awesome interview!!!

At 1:41 while Redd was out in California with Merle Haggard, I was subbing for a month. I subbed a lot over the course of a few years. But Don gave me a tape of Redd and the band live. I'll have to ask Johnny. But I'm sure he got a copy too. But I already knew all the stuff because I'd been subbing for Redd starting in Sept 1995. I know Don is jumping around a bit, but figured I needed to make that known. Because right after that month I played subbing for Redd, He got the Haggard gig. And Johnny and I swapped sides of Broadway. I ended up playing with Tommy Townsend taking over for Johnny Hiland, as Johnny became the full time Don Kelley Band guitarist. And shortly after. I moved to WA state, went to work for Microsoft. Then when I moved back in 2006, I ended up subbing for Guthrie Trapp... when he went out on the road with Jerry Douglas. It's funny how Nashville just keeps morphing. But during the 80s, 90s and 2000's, every guitarist with an ounce of talent watched the Don Kelley Band. I met literally everybody my 3rd day in Nashville. As I became the picker subbing for Redd for the first 6 weeks I was in Nashville. I haven't watched this since It was first published. But that section needs to be said. Artie and Ron Lutrick, Don and I did a month solid while Redd was out getting the Merle gig. Or I at least thought he already had the gig. Because Don made me buy a tube amp. I swapped and traded until I got one. And the last week I played with him in the late 90s, was with a Peavey Classic 50 4-10. And I love him for forcing the switch to tube's, but also really really didn't enjoy that last week I played with him before Johnny took over. He rode my ass. And was not happy. Neither Don, nor me. Because I was trying to get my sound back with different gear. And the solid state vs tube reaction to my compression pedal was so different. My playing suffered. And I think Don already had Johnny lined up anyway. So that could be part of the discomfort. I'll love all those guys till my dying day. Including Denny Fast, who was never mentioned in this interview. Rod Rielly deserves a big shout out. He was one of the first guys I met. And he turned me on to the Verne Gosden gig, when he went with Ricky Van Shelton. But I stayed in Nashville rather than take that gig. I love Don. He asked me to join full time when Guthrie left. But I turned him down. And I don't think he ever forgave me for that. But I was on the road with Jace Everett, and Trent Willmon, and other label artists. Sunny Sweeney, Krista Marie etc... I didn't want to get stuck on Broadway. I paid my dues in the 90s. So it's fun to look back. But sad to see that era of music gone. There's really nothing like that band anymore.

Wow.... amazing lovely informative sentimental.... thank you boys.

Fabulous interview.

You are the man for getting this interview.

Superb interview ...indeed every Tele player wanted to be in Don's band...

Don is much funnier than I imagined he would be. He taught many people discipline and how to entertain. Great interview.

Best live band I ever saw in Nashville, always put on a the best show, and loved it when he whistled at the crowd, we truly miss you don. How about coming back for 4 weekends a year, please

The stock price of the internet just went up. Terrific, entertaining interview.

It took me 3 days to get through all of it but I loved every minute of it!

So glad you got this interview! Don should seriously consider writing a memoir.

Thanks so much for doing this Zac!

Best interview ever!

Seeing the hawks may have changed don’s life, but seeing don changed mine. I moved to Nashville after seeing him and think of him everytime I play broadway.

man WHAT an interview this was. Mighty fine

Wonderful interview. Thank you!

Wonderful stories and interview! Kids should take notice of this and be required viewing. Not everything comes easy and life has twists and turns none of can account for.

THE BEST INTERVIEW I HAVE EVER SEEN HANDS DOWN

Don Kelly introduced me to JD and after that, a whole line of pickers that have become my favorites. And eventually lead me to Zac! Just an incredible musician and eye for talent. Didnt know he was a band fan. Gotta son named Hudson after garth and a dog named levon. Thanks again zac!

Thanks Truetone This Was Great

Subbed many a night with Don. An honor and a privilege to be one of those guys. Go buy a tone! Love you Don! Forrest Lee Jr.

Wonderful, superb, beautiful and awesome!!! True tone has done it again! The guests are always interesting but more importantly they all seem to be nice people! Great work!

That was awesome Zac, what a legacy Don has

Awesome interview 👌

That was great!!!

What a lovely man !! Great interview...

Don K“ General Patton “ created so many guitarists… he basically made them better than they even thought they could be.

Chunk of history right there

Wonderful video!

I've seen the DKB with Redd, Johnny Hiland, JD Simo, Guthrie Trapp, Porter, Keith Horne, Kenny Vaughan, Joe Manuel, Rod Riley and a few others I can't remember. What a legend.

Love it!

a great piece of Nashville History

Nice!

Just fantastic, no need to say more......

Imo he was the sensei of Nashville and he produced a lot of respected blackbelts. I met Don a few times, he's old school in most respects and they certainly don't make em like him anymore. Great interview 👍👍

Awesomeness abides! ❤️

As rewarding a time of listening as ANY music fanatic dream of... regardless of their preferred genre! Listen and learn ya'll!!

Never knew Don Kelly's like I learned here...personality 👍😀

Soooo fun. Thanks!! Too bad Don can’t tell stories.

Amazing story🔥

This is as good as it comes

True living legend. Greatest ever!!!

Legend!!!!! Ask Guthrie Ask JD Ask Daniel

Another great interview Zac. Thanks as always. Maybe one of these days you could get Little Tommy Bukovac to come on the show?

This guy's an American treasure....

Living legend

Great interview. He skipped over how he discovered Daniel Donato and Porter McClister. I miss seeing Don at Roberts.

God bless Don Kelly.

I saw Don one night at Robert's with Kenny Vaughn playing.🎸

Don't play over the vocals LOL I love it!