MANSFIELD — What 15-year-old Dane Donohue first thought was a punishment resulted in him picking up a guitar.
“I had rheumatic fever and was told if I wanted to cure it that I’d have to be on bed rest,” he said.
“There’s not a worse thing you can tell a 15-year-old in summer. But, I picked up a guitar and was listening to The Beatles and trying to imitate those chords. I’ve had the bug ever since then.”
A Richland County native and Crestview graduate, Donohue joined his first band, Buckles, at age 18. He earned a communications degree from The Ohio State University and played Jesus in a touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” shortly after graduating.
“Right after that I was pursuing a recording contract,” Donohue said.
Donohue, 76, recorded his self-titled debut album for Columbia Records in 1978. Forty-six years later, his second album “L.A. Rainbow” has received international acclaim.
A review from the Germany-based WEST COAST SOUL states, “It’s a rare feat for an artist to return after such a long hiatus and sound not just relevant but inspired.”
Donohue joked that he was “the only unknown” on his 1978 debut album, as stars including Don Henley, Stevie Nicks and JD Souther contributed backing vocals and tracks.
“I didn’t record an album for years because the bar was set so high with all those superstars that I was lucky enough to have support me,” he said.
“I always loved music, but I never liked the business side of it. I didn’t necessarily want to book time in the multi-million dollar studios to record. But now, we have the technology to email tracks, which made this album a lot easier to record.”
Shelby, Mansfield artists collaborate on ‘L.A. Rainbow’
Donohue recorded “L.A. Rainbow” at Page 99 Music in Detroit, Tommy Baldwin Productions in Indianapolis, Buzz Kilgore Recording in Shelby and The Woodhouse in Mansfield.
Richland County’s own Jeffrey Boyd played flugelhorn, “Jumpin’ Ed” Jonnet featured his saxophone and “Maestro” Garlan McCruter lended his talents on keys to a few songs.
Dyanna Lynn White also co-wrote the songs “Chinatown” and “Let It Go.”
Donohue co-produced “L.A. Rainbow” with John H. Nixon, who he met through a podcast interview on Out of the Main.
“John lives in the heart of Ann Arbor, so we laughed about an OSU grad working with him and his band,” Donohue said. “His group is Page 99, and they are extremely talented.”
Donohue said he was a bit nervous releasing his second album, but that he’s been pleased with the reception.
“I wanted to stay mostly in the genre of yacht rock, because that’s what my first album was known for,” he said. “I was really just trying to make a good, solid album that sounded like it could fit in right where I left off.”
A 2021 Narratively profile described Donohue as “the lost prince of yacht rock.”
Though he admitted his debut album didn’t receive as much attention as he had hoped, Donohue said his music has had a second life with the rise of streaming platforms. Three of his songs are featured on Spotify’s Yacht Rock playlist.
“Some of those songs from my first album have millions of streams now, which is quite something,” he said.
Donohue released “L.A. Rainbow” under P-VINE Records, based in Japan. He also used an interpreter for an interview with the Japan-based music industry magazine AOR AGE.
The Michigan-based Goldmine Magazine also published an interview with Donohue following the “L.A. Rainbow” release.
“It’s really neat to see all the positive media coverage, but it’s the work with John H. Nixon and the extraordinary musicians I worked with that I’m the most proud of,” Donohue said.
Donohue is planning a “Golden Summers Revisited” concert with Dale Powers at the Ashland Theatre on April 12, 2025.
“They’re a really extraordinary group,” Donohue said. “I’m having as much fun now as I did with all the stars back in the ’70s.”
Donohue’s fans can read more about his albums and access downloads online at danedonohue.com
