Donald Farr

Donald Farr first performed in front of an audience when he was around 8 years old. It was a stormy night at his home church near Union, South Carolina, and during his vocal rendition of “How Great Thou Art,” lightning struck close by and the lights went out – but he kept singing as the thunder shook the small country church. Perhaps that’s why he doesn’t sing today, instead preferring to hold down the bottom end on bass guitar.

Like millions of others in the 1960s, Donald gravitated toward the guitar within weeks of the Beatles’ inaugural performance on Ed Sullivan. He quickly switched to bass and played in local bands throughout high school, opening for acts like the Royal Guardsmen (remember the Snoopy and the Red Baron?) and backing soul singers like Arthur Conley (remember “Sweet Soul Music?).

While several of his bandmates pursued music after high school, with several going on to accompany groups like the Allman Brothers and the Marshall Tucker Band, marriage and a blue Mustang combined to pull Donald away from the music scene. The Mustang led to a career as a magazine editor; for the past 30 years, he has edited numerous automotive magazines, mostly involving Mustangs. Currently he’s editor of Mustang Monthly. Several years ago, his teenage son asked for a guitar for Christmas and the music bug bit again. He’s played bass in local Lakeland, Florida, blues and country bands ever since, with Sunday mornings devoted to praise and worship at his current home church with The Breakout Band.