DONNY RICHMOND is a multi-talented, multi-award winning entertainer. The singer, composer, actor and TV personality is an inductee of 5 different music HALLS OF FAME. Other recognitions include ARTIST OF THE DECADE, ENTERTAINER OF THE DECADE, THE LIVING LEGEND AWARD, and nominations for BEST LEAD ACTOR in a FEATURE FILM.
Today, Donny Richmond is recognized as an innovator, leader, and consummate entertainer. In fact, entertaining has been a way of life for Donny since he was a child. His winning smile, pleasing personality and healthy appearance helped Donny win a contest to pose for a milk advertisement when he was a baby. Donny was just four years old when he began singing for the neighbors around the kids' swings in the backyard. In the second grade, if it rained and the class couldn't go outdoors for recess, the teacher would call on Donny to sing.
Richmond grew up in the suburbs of Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C. In Junior and Senior High School, he became interested in writing songs and wearing "dude" clothes; and would entertain his classmates. Donny sang at his own Senior Prom, wearing an outlandish gold outfit, including gold sparkle shoes. After high school and while appearing with bands at night, Donny attended college by day, studying music and acting.
In 1992, while visiting Nashville, Richmond was invited to appear on a special recording project with Stonewall Jackson, featuring many of the all-time top country music artists. Donny found himself in the recording studio alongside Garth Brooks and others. The resulting Album is entitled “Stonewall Jackson & Super Friends”. Other artists featured include Vince Gill, Alison Kraus, Tim McGraw, Charlie Daniels – a host of the country music superstars and “legends”.
Richmond moved to Nashville in 1993, and since that time has gone on to make history by charting both on mainstream Country Music Charts and Christian/Country Gospel Charts simultaneously. In the U.S. during the 1990’s, Richmond was at the forefront of the “Christian Country Music” movement. Donny was arguably the emerging genre's most publicized artist, and was its first recording artist to be selected to appear on the mainstream Country Music CDX Compilation disc, distributed to thousands of radio stations across America, and internationally. Also appearing on the disc were Garth Brooks, George Jones, Wynonna Judd, and Kenny Chesney.
While having many National U.S. #1 Country Gospel songs and winning a host of Music Association Awards, Richmond has also clocked up an extremely impressive list of television appearances, including his own "The Don Richmond Show," which had its beginnings in September 1997 for the Christian Television Network in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 2001, Donny Richmond's Christmas video, "Heartbreak Holiday," was a smashing hit on American National Country Music Television Networks, including Great American Country (GAC) and VH-1. It has continued to receive airplay each Christmas season, and is now regarded by many as a classic. "Heartbreak Holiday" also led to the Christmas 2005 short feature film of the same name and starring Richmond, which drew rave reviews on American television. Donny has also been featured on TV networks circling the globe.
The wonderful response from European television audiences inspired Donny to release more material and to tour there.
Many notable successes are included in Richmond’s string of hits. Donny’s “Ask The Man Upstairs”(co-written by himself and David Walker) was #1 throughout Europe in 2007 on both the Christian and the Country charts. “That’s What Christmas Means” recorded by Donny with an all-star cast of musicians including Hall Of Famers Charlie McCoy(harmonica,vibes), Boots Randolph(sax), and James Burton(guitar), was #1 on Europe’s Christmas Charts, 2009. This song was co-written by Donny, David Walker and Randy Smith.
In 2011, Richmond’s recording of “Gospel Jukebox”(written by Walter Cunningham) became the longest running #1 song in the history of the European Christian charts, breaking the previous record set by Vince Gill. 2012 saw Donny’s “I Believe” become the longest running Top 20 song of the year.
Donny's 2015 international Chart Hit; "The World Keeps Loving Elvis" was recorded with the largest collection ever of Elvis Presley's former musicians to back up any singer other than Elvis himself. Other unique details about the song are detailed on YouTube. 2016/2017, Donny's duet recording with country music legend Stonewall Jackson of "JESUS IS MY LIFELINE" once again became an international #1 Chart Hit, now having reached #1 in 3 different decades. In 2019, Donny's "There Is An Answer" broke the all time record for longevity at #1 on the international Airplay Express Charts. Donny’s recordings have reached #1 in more than a dozen countries. World famous backup singers, The Jordanaires, are also to thank for Donny’s success, as they have appeared on many of Donny’s hit recordings.
THE LIST OF DONNY RICHMOND'S AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS IS EXTENSIVE
(Here's a Partial List)
Recipient of many other Top Awards for MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR, SONGWRITER, PRODUCER and TOP INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY GOSPEL TV PERSONALITY
6-time Country Gospel ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
3-times nominated for NATIONAL TNN/NASHVILLE NETWORK MUSIC AWARDS
Awarded HONORARY "COLONEL" by the Governor of Tennessee
(2019) Longest running #1 Chart Streak in history of international Airplay Express Countdown for "THERE IS AN ANSWER"
2016/2017 "JESUS IS MY LIFELINE" - the duet by DONNY RICHMOND and STONEWALL JACKSON became an international #1 Chart Hit for the Third Time (1996,2006,2016)
Many #1 Christian Chart Hits and Holder of these All-Time Records (GOSPEL VOICE MAGAZINE):
Longest Running National U.S. #1 Chart Streak (5 straight months) NOTE: When "JESUS IS MY LIFELINE" entered its #1 spot, it replaced another Richmond #1, "WHAT WILL HE SAY."
Songs in EVERY Top 10 Chart for an entire year--two songs in the Top 5 simultaneously.
Longest running #1 European Christian chart streak for "Gospel Jukebox".
Performances include THE GRAND OLE OPRY where, among other awards, Richmond was presented with Stonewall Jackson THE LEGENDARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for their duet, "JESUS IS MY LIFELINE," the longest-running national #1 Christian Country Chart Song of all time (4 months).
Recipient of the LIVING LEGEND AWARD by the Country Gospel Music Association.
"How Much Do You Love Him?""
"Jesus Is My Lifeline"
In 2020: 6 Award Winning Songs, Including:
"Red, White, and Blue"
"I Believe"
In 2019:
The Music Video “There Is An Answer” Performed by Donny Richmond & Written by Donny Richmond/David Walker/Todd Collins. Topped the VideoExpress Top20 Charts during April 2019 earning Donny a VideoExpress Disc Award from AirplayExpress.
“The Smaller The Town” Performed by Donny Richmond and Written by Donny Richmond/David Walker/Marty Mouton. A Number One Hit on the AirplayExpress Top40 Country Charts during April 2019 qualifying Donny for Platinum Disc Award from AirplayExpress.
“The Smaller The Town” Performed by Donny Richmond and Written by Donny Richmond/David Walker/Marty Mouton Charted in the Top 5 of the AirplayExpress Top40 Country Charts during March 2019 qualifying Donny for A Gold Disc Award from AirplayExpress.
“Jesus Is My Lifeline” A number One Hit on AirplayExpress Top20 Gospel Charts. Performed by Donny Richmond and Stonewall Jackson qualifying Donny for a Multi-Platinum Disc Award from AirplayExpress.
The Music Video “That’s What Christmas Means” Performed by Donny Richmond and Written by Donny Richmond/David Walker & Randy Smith. Topped the VideoExpress Top20 Charts during the first quarter of 2019 qualifying Donny for a VideoExpress Award from AirplayExpress.
“There Is An Answer” Performed by Donny Richmond & Written Donny Richmond/David Walker/Todd Collins. Topped the AirplayExpress Gospel Top20 Charts for the first quarter in 2019 Earning Donny a Multi-Platinum Disc Award from AirplayExpress.
“Crying” performed by Donny Richmond Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson Topped the AirplayExpress Country Top40 Charts for the first quarter in 2019 Earning Donny a Platinum Disc Award from AirplayExpress.
"Jesus Is My Lifeline"
"Red, White, and Blue"
"I Believe"
