Letter from George Bush

Dear Don and Francine,
Just a quick note of a very belated thanks for your good letter and the CDs you sent. Barbara and I have listened to the CDs over and over and we love them. Love the brochure, too.

Have a great summer, Barbara and I are in Maine now, surrounded by family. Life is grand.

Hastily, but with warmest regards,
George Bush (former President)

Don was seen on HBO on June 11, 2008 at 10pm EST called
"BACK NINE AT CHERRY HILLS"
THE GOLF TOURNAMENT HE ALMOST WON
It is being aired from time to time since June 11th
BE SURE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE SHOW!

Radio interview with David Berger

Jan. 25
2008

Radio interview with David Berger's Music Museum

Jan. 10
2008

Radio interview with Chuck Baker

Caribbean cruise to help hospice
Anita Hardin | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted March 9, 2007

Singer Don Cherry will be the featured entertainer on a Caribbean cruise to support Hospice of Lake & Sumter Counties.

Cherry, who is known for his million-selling song "Band of Gold," will sail aboard the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral on Dec. 9 for an eight-day voyage. He also will do a book-signing.

These are just a few pictures from the cruise.

Don Cherry singing on the cruise.


Don Cherry signing autographs after the show.

Don Cherry - Thinking of You

This fifty-two track double CD includes Don Cherry's Top 30 hits "Vanity", Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle", and "The Third Man Theme", plus over forty tracks recorded early in his career, many appearing on CD for the first time. In the 1950's, Cherry reached the Top 10 with his versions of "Mona Lisa" (with Victor Young's Orchestra), "Thinking of You" and "Band of Gold" - all included on the 2XCD set.

You'll find the CD in the Gift Shop

HEAVENLY MUSIC IN PARADISE
HIT MAKER DON CHERRY MAKES SWEET MEMORIES
AT JUKEBOX SATURDAY NIGHT GALA AT PPAC

It may have been "Jukebox Saturday Night" this Memorial Day weekend at the Paradise Performing Arts Center, but it definitely was an evening of "Sweet Memories" thanks to 1950s hit maker Don Cherry who headlined the fourth annual concert extravaganza. Cherry and jukeboxes go together like a wink and a smile. That fact has been evident for the past 55-plus years as Cherry has chalked up numerous hits in his illustrious career including Vanity, Thinking Of You, Band Of Gold, Ghost Town, I Love You Drops, Between Winston-Salem And Nashville, Tennessee, and Take A Message To Mary, thus being a jukebox favorite. Also sharing the concert bill was the eighteen-piece Skyliners Big Band from nearby Chico, led by the husband and wife team of John and Joey Mahoney.

Prior to Cherry taking the stage, a seven-minute video retrospective of some of the timeless Texas Troubadour's memorable moments on television was shown to pique the interest of the over 500 audience members that were in attendance. Backed by an augmented Skyliners cast of twelve, "Mr. Band of Gold" launched into a moving rendition of Without A Song, a light-hearted, jaunty version of Country Roads, and the reverie-filled Bob Thiele composition, What A Wonderful World.

Don singing at Jukbox Saturday Night

In keeping with the tenor of Memorial Day, the 83-year-old Cherry paid homage to his late son, Stephen, a victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Buildings, and to his late pal and baseball great Mickey Mantle, by singing a moving interpretation of the Country standard, Green, Green Grass Of Home. "This was the only song that Mickey ever sang in public and he did it with me," Cherry told the audience.

Don after show signing a CD

Cherry's versions of two powerful Country tunes - Between Winston-Salem And Nashville, Tennessee, a hit for the Mills Brothers, and Streets Of Laredo -  garnered enthusiastic applause from the crowd. But it was in the tender love ballads of Sweet Memories, Sometimes When We Touch, And I Love Her So that Cherry's expressiveness as a song stylist came through without reservation. His voice remained effortless and simplistic, yet full of warmth, verve and amazing control. In short, his pipes belie his age.

In a move that took everyone off guard, Cherry took a pause in his performance and called for Joey Mahoney, the Skyliners' chanteuse and MC, to come back out on stage as he sang Happy Birthday to her. Mahoney's birthday is May 25. Left: Don singing Happy Birthday to Joey Mohoney

Don rehearsing with the Skyliners

Don after show signing a CD

In the moment every one was waiting for, Cherry then broke out with his signature smash hit, Band of Gold. Recorded in October 1955, and released two months later, Band Of Gold shot up to the Number 5 spot on Billboard's Top 20 Chart in January 1956, staying in the Top 20 until March where it peaked at Number 12.

While the audience was under the impression that Band Of Gold was Cherry's biggest hit, it wasn't, he said, correcting his listeners. "I had a bigger hit which lasted ten years and earned me over $300,000," Cherry said. That "hit" was the "Mr. Clean jingle" heard  from 1956 to 1966 on every household television and radio in America. Having said that, Cherry briefly sang the catchy ditty much to everyone's amusement and remembrance.

Patricia Whitaker (a Fan since 1956 when she first heard "Band Of Gold") with Don and Francine

Don after show signing a CD

Cherry closed his show with Augusta, a pensive song about the renown Masters Golf Tournament to which Cherry is no stranger, and the exhilarating My Way, a song often associated with Frank Sinatra. The audience gave Cherry a standing ovation for his efforts thus leaving this listener with goose bumps down his back. As an encore, and in salute to America, Cherry led the audience in singing America The Beautiful, a capella style.

Don Cherry has got to be the best-kept secret in the music arena. He is no secret, really. He is, however, a timeless and priceless treasure. Such a treasure as he should not be kept hidden and forgotten about, but rather, be esteemed and proudly and majestically showcased over and over and over again. Don Cherry is Americana and his colors should never fade but always remain bright.

Don singing during performance at Jukebox Sat. Night

When one mentions Don Cherry another may ask, “Do you mean the singer or the golfer?”  The answer is simple.  Don Cherry is both.  As a singer he has played to appreciative crowds at the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro and the Hilton and Tropicana in Las Vegas.  Today, he continues to appear in concert at various Las Vegas hotel/casinos and at nightclubs and special events throughout the country.  As a golfer, Don has played both as an amateur and professional.  On the greens he has competed with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Gary Player, just to mention a few.  Don’s singing career started early in life when band leader Jan Garber selected him as the band vocalist.  In the fifties his recording of “Thinking of You” shot to the number 3 position on the Hit Parade, selling over 700,000 copies.  His most memorable hit was the million-seller, “Band of Gold.”  He frequently was a guest on The Dean Martin Show, Ed Sullivan, Merv Griffin and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  He recently recorded a couple of duo-albums…one with Vic Damone and the other with Willie Nelson.  Vic refers to Don as a “Singer’s Singer.”  Still a great “crooner,” Don Cherry will be backed by the north state’s favorite big band, The Skyliners.

Read the review: Jukebox Saturday Night With Don Cherry

Dan Pastorini & Mark Dennard Celebrity Golf Tournament
The Woodlands Resort in Houston TX - Panther Trails Course

Don Cherry performed and played golf as a celebrity Captain.

Paul Berlin appeared with Don Cherry for his "Cherry's Jubilee" book signing in Houston, TX at Southwest Lincoln Mercury.

Tues. Evening - Don performed at Quail Valley Country Club in Mission City, a suburb of Houston, Texas.

Don rehearsing at Quail Valley

Don and Carole (a fan)

Five Stars Who Should Be in the Hall of Fame
Wayne is great, but so are these talents

Las Vegas Weekly
By Michael T. Toole

Don Cherry: A resident since 1967, singer Don Cherry graced the stage of every great Rat Pack-era hotel: Sands, Tropicana, Dunes, Hilton, Aladdin, and the Desert Inn. A fine singer with an established recording career before he turned to Vegas (“Band of Gold,” “I’ll Be Around”), he always talked up Vegas on the chat shows where he was a perennial guest. Cherry, who also had a fine career as a golf pro, can still be seen around town hitting the greens, but it’s a shame this dapper performer seems to be a forgotten footnote in the annals of Vegas entertainment.

Redd Foxx...
Paula Francis...
Shecky Greene...
Lola Falana...

Don was interviewed live on the Bob Morgan radio show.

Dear Francine,
Thank you and Don so much for doing the interview it was just unforgettable, and Bob was honored to have you and Don in the studio. You can hear the repeat at 1000AM this morning. Bob is going to get a copy to you.

Thanks again,
Mike Copley

Hi Don and Francine,
The show was a great success... in fact such a success, that we are going to repeat it on November 2nd. The audience loved it! Don is such an easy interview, it was a real joy!  Thank you Don for your time, graciousness, interesting stories and talent.  It made for a wonderful show and as you will hear an exceptional Hour.  Thank you both for the contribution to central Florida's enjoyment.  Bob Simon and I really enjoyed getting to know you both. 
Warmest Regards,  Don Bruce
The Don Bruce Show Sunny  720 AM WRZN

Don and Francine,
Blessing to you and thanks for such a wonderful interview. Evetryone was enchanted and excited to learn about your history. We all enjoyed your excellent book, CDs and DVD. Wishing you well nd looking forward to another great intetrview someday.
Our Best, Tom and Judy
WMST Mid Morning Radio

Dear Don & Francine,
Thanks so very much for the interview on Saturday. I received some very positive responses from my listeners. Best of luck with your book sales and next time we're in Vegas, we will give you a call. It's been a pleasure working with both of you. We'll keep in touch!
Best, Elliot Irving
WFLO - Elliot Irving Radio Show