Don Heffington

Early years

Heffington grew up in a musical family in Los Angeles. His grandmother played drums and his mother played upright bass, and they passed on their enthusiasm for jazz to Heffington. Then Bob Dylan's album Bringing It All Back Home broadened his musical scope to include rock and roll music. As a teen, Heffington joined a jazz band, The Doug Morris Quintet, on drums.

Huffington was drummer for Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, playing on the 1983 album White Shoes.

Lone Justice

Heffington was a member of the first incarnation of Lone Justice, along with Maria McKee (vocals), Ryan Hedgecock (guitar), and Marvin Etzioni (bass). Heffington was with the band from 1982 until 1985.

Watkins Family Hour

Heffington is a member of the Watkins Family Hour, led by Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins. Other members include Sebastian Steinberg (bass), Greg Leisz (pedal steel), Benmont Tench (piano), and David Garza (guitar).

Performing and recording

Heffington has played and/or recorded with many artists, including Dave Alvin, Peter Case, Vic Chesnutt, Delia Bell, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Kathleen Edwards, Lowell George, the Jayhawks, Rickie Lee Jones, Sam Phillips, Ron Sexsmith, Percy Sledge, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, the Wallflowers, Lucinda Williams, and Dwight Yoakam.

Solo and collaborative albums

In 1995, Heffington and fiddler Tammy Rogers collaborated on the mostly instrumental In the Red.

On his first solo album Gloryland, Heffington played most of the instruments and recorded with engineer David Vaught.

Contemporary Abstractions in Folk Song and Dance, released in 2015, was recorded live with Heffington (vocals, acoustic guitar), Tim Young (electric guitar) and Sebastian Steinberg (upright bass). Huffington performs as part of the Don Heffington Group with Tim Young, Sebastian Steinberg, and Sarah Kramer.

Recordings

• 1995: In the Red (Dead Reckoning) with Tammy Rogers
• 2014: Gloryland (self-released)
• 2016: Contemporary Abstractions in Folk Song and Dance (self-released)

With Lone Justice

• 1983: This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes 1983 (Omnivore)
• 1985: Lone Justice (Geffen)

As producer

• 2005: The Creekdippers - Mystic Theatre (Glitterhouse)
• 2009: Amy Allison - Sheffield Streets (Urban Myth)
• 2014: Chuck E. Weiss - Red Beans and Weiss (ANTI-)

Also appears on

1983 - 1995

• 1983: Delia Bell - Delia Bell (Warner Bros.) reissued in 2006 on Wounded Bird
• 1983: Emmylou Harris - White Shoes (Warner Bros.)
• 1983: Leo Kottke - Time Step (Chrysalis)
• 1985: Bob Dylan - Empire Burlesque (Columbia)
• 1986: Bob Dylan - Knocked Out Loaded (Columbia)
• 1991: Carla Olson and Mick Taylor - Too Hot For Snakes (Razor Edge)
• 1992: Marvin Etzioni - The Mandolin Man (Restless)
• 1993: Maria Mckee - You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (Geffen)
• 1993: Chuck Prophet - Balinese Dancer (China / Homestead)
• 1994: Marvin Etzioni - Weapons Of The Spirit (Restless)
• 1994: Sam Phillips - Martinis & Bikinis (Omnivore)
• 1994: Victoria Williams - Loose (Atlantic)
• 1995: Peter Case - Sings Like Hell (Vanguard)
• 1995: Peter Case - Torn Again (Vanguard)
• 1995: The Jayhawks - Tomorrow the Green Grass (American)
• 1995: Kieran Kane - Dead Rekoning (Dead Reckoning)
• 1995: Chris Lizotte - Long Time Comin' (Metro One)
• 1995: Buddy Miller - Your Love and Other Lies (Hightone)
• 1995: David Olney - High, Wide and Lonesome (Philo)
• 1995: Tom Russell - The Rose of the San Joaquin (Hightone)
• 1995: various artists - A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC (Thirsty Ear)

1996 - 2000

• 1996: Rosie Flores - Honky Tonk Reprise (Rounder)
• 1996: Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Braver Newer World (Elektra)
• 1996: Bob Neuwirth - Look Up (Watermelon)
• 1996: Fernando Ortega - Night of Your Return (RPI)
• 1996: Sam Phillips - Omnipop (It's Only a Flesh Wound Lambchop) (Virgin)
• 1996: Amy Rigby - Diary Of A Mod Housewife (Koch)
• 1996: Kim Stockwood - Bonavista (EMI Canada)
• 1996: Daniel Tashian - Sweetie (Elektra)
• 1996: The Wallflowers - Bringing Down the Horse (Interscope)
• 1997: Tony Gilkyson - Sparko (Askew)
• 1997: Jonny Kaplan - California Heart (Muna Tea(
• 1997: David Poe - David Poe (550 Music)
• 1997: Adam Sandler - What's Your Name? (Warner Bros.)
• 1998: Neal Casal - Basement Dreams (Fargo)
• 1998: Peter Case - Full Service No Waiting (Vanguard)
• 1998: Sinead Lohan - No Mermaid (Interscope)
• 1998: Chuck Pyle - Keepin' Time by the River (Bee 'N Flower)
• 1998: Amy Rigby - Middlescence (Koch)
• 1998: Chris Stills - 100 Year Thing (Atlantic)
• 1998: various artists - Pearls in the Snow: The Songs of Kinky Friedman (Kinkajou)
• 1999: Blue Mountain - Tales of a Traveler (Roadrunner)
• 1999: The Derailers - Full Western Dress (Sire)
• 1999: Buddy Miller - Cruel Moon (HighTone)
• 1999: Adam Sandler - Stan and Judy's Kid (Warner Bros.)
• 1999: Matthew Sweet - In Reverse (Volcano)
• 2000: Nick Binkley - Let the Boy Jam (PSB)
• 2000: Peter Case - Flying Saucer Blues (Vanguard)
• 2000: The Drowners - Is There Something On Your Mind? (Wind-Up)
• 2000: Jimmie Dale Gilmore - One Endless Night (Rounder)
• 2000: Larry John McNally - Loose Ends (Leni Stern)
• 2000: Christy McWilson - The Lucky One (Hightone)
• 2000: Ramsay Midwood - Shoot Out at the OK Chinese Restaurant (Vanguard)
• 2000: Geoff Muldaur - Password (Hightone)
• 2000: Fernando Ortega - Home (RPI)
• 2000: Rick Shea - Sawbones (Aim)
• 2000: Randy Weeks - Madeline (Hightone)
• 2000: Victoria Williams - Water to Drink (Atlantic)

2001 - 2004

• 2001: Amy Allison - Sad Girl (Diesel Only)
• 2001: Annie Rapid - Flood (Orchard)
• 2001: Danni Leigh - Divide and Conquer (Audium Entertainment)
• 2001: Over The Rhine - Films For Radio (Narada)
• 2001: Chuck E. Weiss - Old Souls & Wolf Tickets (Slow River)
• 2001: Eddie Zip - New Orleans Live in Hollywood (DJM)
• 2002: Pieta Brown - Pieta Brown (Rubric)
• 2002: Barry Goldberg - Stoned Again (Antone's)
• 2002: Christy McWilson - Bed of Roses (Hightone)
• 2002: Mark Olson - December's Child (Dualtone)
• 2002: Peter Stuart - Propeller (Vanguard)
• 2002: Victoria Williams - Sings Some Ol' Songs (Atlantic)
• 2003: Vic Chesnutt - Silver Lake (New West)
• 2003: Eleni Mandell - Country for True Lovers (Zedtone)
• 2003: Dwight Yoakam - Population Me (New West)
• 2004: Dave Alvin - Ashgrove (Yep Roc)
• 2004: Peter Case - Who's Gonna Go Your Crooked Mile? (Vanguard)
• 2004: Moot Davis - Moot Davis (Little Dog)
• 2004: Amy Farris - Anyway (Yep Roc)
• 2004: Peter Himmelman - Unstoppable Forces (Majestic)
• 2004: Tift Merritt - Tambourine (Lost Highway)
• 2004: Lila Nelson - Still Got the Farm (self-released)
• 2004: Graham Parker - Your Country (Bloodshot)
• 2004: Adam Sandler - Shhh...Don't Tell (Warner Bros.)
• 2004: Percy Sledge - Shining Through the Rain (Varèse Sarabande)

2005 - 2007

• 2005: Vic Chesnutt - Ghetto Bells (New West)
• 2005: Grey DeLisle - Iron Flowers (Sugar Hill)
• 2005: Red Grammer - Be Bop Your Best (Red Note)
• 2005: Gratitude - Gratitude (Atlantic)
• 2005: Judy Henske - She Sang California (Fair Star Music)
• 2005: Rick Shea - Bound for Trouble (Tres Pescadores)
• 2006: Dave Alvin - West of the West (Yep Roc)
• 2006: Chris and Thomas - Land of Sea (Defend Music)
• 2006: Tim Easton - Ammunition (New West)
• 2006: Albert Lee - Road Runner (Sugar Hill)
• 2006: Kip Boardman - Hello I Must Be (Mesmer)
• 2006: Tony Gilkyson - Goodbye Guitar (Rolling Sea)
• 2006: Marley's Ghost - Spooked (Sage Arts)
• 2006: Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City)
• 2007: Dead Rock West - Honey and Salt (Populuxe)
• 2007: King Wilkie - Low Country Suite (Rounder)
• 2007: Patrick Park - Everyone's in Everyone (Curb Appeal)
• 2007: Jack Tempchin - Songs (Audio & Video Labs, Inc.)

2008 - present

• 2008: Ted Russell Kamp - Poor Man's Paradise (Dualtone)
• 2008: Greg Copeland - Diana and James (Inside Recordings)
• 2008: Kathleen Edwards - Asking for Flowers (Zoë)
• 2008: Inara George - An Invitation (Everloving)
• 2008: Seals and Crofts - The Longest Road (Rhino)
• 2010: Roy Jay - Fairfax Avenue (Rock Ridge)
• 2010: Stan Ridgway - Neon Mirage (A440 Records)
• 2011: Dave Alvin - Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc)
• 2011: Orchestra Superstring - Easy (Dionysus)
• 2012: Mark M. Dawson - The Writing Wall (Dawsophone)
• 2012: Don Michael Sampson - Coyote (Red Horse)
• 2013: The Living Sisters - Run for Cover (Vanguard)
• 2013: Carrie Rodriguez - Give Me All You Got (Ninth Street Opus)
• 2013: Ron Sexsmith - Forever Endeavour (Cooking Vinyl)
• 2014: Wayne Haught - Fingers (Resist Not)
• 2015: Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin - Lost Time (Yep Roc)
• 2015: Jackson Browne - Standing in the Breach (Inside Recordings)
• 2015: Peter Case - HWY 62 (Omnivore)
• 2015: Miranda Mulholland - Whipping Boy (Fontana North)