Donald Lee "Donnie" Helms

Born: 07/08/58 (Winter Haven, FL)

Specialties: 4 and 5 Str Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass

Sings: Harmony Vocals

Major Influences: John Phillip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Jesse Chambers, Emory Gordy, Joe Osborn, David Hungate, Glenn Worf, Abraham Laboriel

Played on the following Bellamy Brothers albums:
"When We Were Boys" (1981); "Strong Weakness" (1982);
" The Bellamy Bros Greatest Hits" (1982);
Containing the following Top Ten singles:
For All The Wrong Reasons, Get Into Reggae Cowboy,
Redneck Girl, When I'm Away From You

Critically acclaimed for his work on the album, Joe Spann and the Joe Spann Band.

Donnie Helms was born July 8th, 1958 and came from a love of music that doesn't have a band in the family or a daddy playing over his cradle. Oh, there was a grandmother who played piano and that surely influenced his appreciation of music. But if you ask Donnie what his strongest musical memory is, he doesn't hesitate with his answer: John Phillip Sousa. According to legend, Donnie was such a fan of the marching band icon that he used to stand in front of the stereo when he was just a toddler, just as long as his mama would play the records for him.

In Elementary School at ages 7-10, Donnie took piano lessons from the school librarian. From the 6th to the 10th grades, he played tenor sax and, in high school Donnie played in the Jazz Band. In his Senior year, he won the Louie Armstrong Award for a sax solo.

So where did the bass come in? When Donnie was in 7th grade, he spent the summer working in an orange grove and saved his money to buy a Kay bass, and the rest is history.

When he graduated from high school, he went to work as a truck driver, but it wasn't long before he was on the road as a bass player with a gospel group called "God's Children". He toured Florida, Georgia and Alabama in what Donnie lovingly refers to as his first road gig.

In 1976-78, Donnie, along with his best friend, Joe Spann, was one of the founders of the musical phenomenon that had a worldwide cult following: Bluegrass Night at Carl Allen's Historical Cafe. Words can never adequately describe this marvel. If you were there, you know what I mean. If you've never heard of it, I can only say, sorry you missed it!

He also worked with a very hot local band called the Music Factory in 1978 and ‘79 (with Randy Ferrell), doing the lounge and party scene. There were jam sessions at the Pickin' Parlor with Mike Marshall, and studio work with Joe Spann and the guys at Central Sound - in short, these were the years that shaped and molded Donnie into the rare breed of bass player that goes out and makes a name for themselves.

In 1982, Donnie was called by Jesse Chambers, then bass player and road manager for the Bellamy Brothers. Jesse was having ear surgery and needed Donnie to go on the road for him for a few weeks while Jesse recovered. Donnie went out for two weeks that eventually became four.

Then Jesse announced that he was leaving the Brothers to go with Ricky Skaggs and Donnie "got the call". Leaving his new bride (Denise Shumate) at home, Donnie slipped comfortably into his new position as bass player and security manager for the Bellamy's in January of 1983. Randy Ferrell was already playing with the Bellamy's as lead guitar player and Dannie Jones was playing steel so Donnie settled in comfortably with his old friends.

Donnie traveled for the next two years with the Bellamy's, touring extensively in the U.S. and Canada. Donnie loved the road, has lots of stories, but has promised not to write any books. He is very honest and open about life on the road. He learned things about himself, like how much his family means to him and what real friends are all about.

And he learned something about music, too: It's not the money, it's the gas. If you are a musician, you probably understand. If you're a fan, I don't think you can get it. It's about a kind of mysterious, internal power that feeds off playing in a really good band when everything grooves, and a certain kind of magic that happens sometimes when you are playing that is better than drugs or sex. "Gas" is a good word.

When the Bellamy's started to change their musical direction, Donnie (who had played on the #1 hit singles "Red Neck Girl" and "Reggae Cowboy") wasn't as thrilled with the new sound. There were things happening at home that helped influenced his final decision, like Denise being pregnant with their first child. When Donnie did the math, there was only one thing to do: he tendered his resignation around the end of 1983, and came home.

One of the great things about Donnie is that he stayed himself. It made it easier to adjust to coming home after life on the road. He went to work driving big stuff, working at Publix in the warehouse, working for his family's nursery business, and eventually driving trucks again.

As of late, Donnie’s done some writing with a few of his friends, played a little country/bluegrass, both live and in the studio, and played bass with the oldies band, the Rogues, up through 2008.

When asked what he sees in his future, He answered, after a thoughtful moment, “I think I’d like to try my hand at producing.” I think if he does, he’ll do great.