Don Hinton

 

 

 

Born under the Aquarian sign in a little town in southeastern Missouri, Don grew up only ninety miles north of the rock and roll capitol of the world; Memphis, Tennessee.  Caruthersville, only a small dot on the map, adjacent to the Mississippi River, like so many other little-known southern towns, was caught up in the influence of Memphis style music.  It was growing up under the wing of this influence that was to bear one of the truly styled performers that we know today.....Don Hinton.

Hard work was a way of life to every young person in the Mississippi Delta region.  The cotton fields demanded that many a boy and girl spend their summer vacations at arduous labor.  But Don was to begin his tasks in another direction; as a shoe shine boy in his father's barber shop.  More than six years was to pass, developing well-learned lessons there, to prove invaluable in later life.

Music had never really been taken seriously in his family, other than long-remembered folk songs played by his mother on an old upright piano.  Serious music did, however, creep into Don's life.  He found himself taking violin lessons, discovering the appreciation and the virtue of the art.  Studying and progressing led to numerous performance recitals and the foundation he was to build a great ability upon - the art of entertaining.

In this period of his musical life, an important event was about to occur.  The unique vocal sound and style of a singer from Memphis, Tennessee, was to have an indelible influence on him.  That singer was Elvis Presley.  This overwhelming impression would prove to be the turning point for the young violin player from Caruthersville, Missouri.  Fate had dealt its inevitable hand to Don Hinton.  His career as a singer and entertainer would begin.

Things happened fast.  Meeting Narvel Felts, an ABC Dot recording star, inspired his desire to pursue the record industry.  Through Sam Phillips of Sun Records, he was signed to a contract and recorded one of Narvel's songs, along with one he had written himself.  His first session found him in the midst of a great staff band - Charlie Rich on piano; Roland James on guitar, known for his four million selling hit, "Ronchy"; and Billey Rilley on bass, famous for million sellers.

So it was to be, that from a small town in Missouri, a shoe shine boy grew up to become a supreme entertainer, unparalled in his own style of performance.  Today we see a tribute to the field of entertainment in his dedication to audiences everywhere...the one and only, Don Hinton.