"It's a Loud Country" was the motto from a Texas Based Band called Cooder Graw who disbanded in December 2006, playing their final show to a standing room only crowd. An inspiration to an inspiring Texas songwriter; Donny Waits continues that motto "It's a Loud Country". "When I first started out writing and trying to find my sound back in 2003, Cooder Graw was tearing up the stages all across Texas in the early Texas Country Movement. Those guys knew how to entertain a crowd. That's what the band and I pride ourselves on, putting on an energetic show to entertain the crowd. They pay to see you, they want to be entertained! Plus write good songs"- Donny Waits

Donny Waits' musical career began when his sister received a sunburst Johnson guitar as a gift for going off to college. She never played it, so he decided to pick it up and teach himself. After spending a few months learning chords with help from his friends, the Williams clan, he immediately began writing his own songs and hasn't looked back since.

His first song was a storytelling ballad in the fashion of his influences: Cory Morrow, Robert Earl Keen, Cooder Graw and Willie Nelson. "Old Man's Story" is about an old cowboy on the run from the law after avenging the death of his wife and is featured on his debut EP released in December 2007, (Runaway With Me). This first encounter with a 'pen and pad' and a guitar set the tone and inspiration for narrative-infused rhythms to come. Songs about hell-bent women, Texas road trips, trains, troubadours, and murder opened the stage for a wild ride at the Donny Waits show and are sure to keep listeners entertained and craving for more.

Donny has been performing since 2004, and began working with a full band in the spring of 2007, forming the sound of the Donny Waits Band. In the summer of 2007, Donny hit the studio to begin work on his 6 song EP titled Runaway With Me. He made the EP to get his feet wet in the Texas Music scene and to see if anybody was interested in the music he was creating. A last minute decision to add the song "Feet Up On The Dashboard" (co-written with band manager Nathan Smith) to the EP, opened doors and attracted attention that is finally putting his name out on the Texas Music scene. Without a big push for radio play, "Feet Up On The Dashboard" made its way into the hands of several radio stations across Texas. It was also the 12th most requested song out of the Top 100 most requested songs in 2008, on Radio Free Texas, with 523 requests. In the Summer of 2008, The Charlie Lucas Band released their first album "Which Way To Turn" which includes "Feet Up On The Dashboard" on the album. Not bad for wanting to get your feet wet.

Donny has performed at large venues such as the Big Texas Dancehall and Saloon in Spring, Firehouse Saloon, Armadillo Palace & Continental Club in Houston, River Road Icehouse & Tavern in the Gruene in New Braunfels and even enjoys playing small town joints including Dobbin City Hall, Marguerites Dancehall and Saloon and Thirsty Parrot. Significant events have included the 2008 Rowdy Float Trip, Pasadena Cook-off, Summer Jam at the Hearthstone Country Club, Radio Free Texas Concert for the Coast, Slow Rollin Lows Summer fest, San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo and the Scott Todaro benefit at the Gulf Greyhound Park.
Donny has performed with Texas talents such as Cross Canadian Ragweed, Honeybrowne, Charlie Lucas Band, Bleu Edmondson, Mike Ethan Messick, Scott Matthews, Hunter Mckithan Band, Slow Rollin Lows, Rodney Parker and the 50 Pesos Reward, Jamie Talbert, Ben Morris and many more.

Donny Waits' performances are immediately noted by audiences as professional, energetic, and entertaining. Look for him to be at a show near you!