D
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welcome
to the new home of
Don Pardoe
Don has been making music for over three decades. Singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, and producer, Don continues to create wonderful music. This site will direct you in locating both current and previous works including CD,s, LP's, and print music.
biography
About Me
Don Pardoe was born in Houston, TX at the beginning of a decade that would be full of turmoil and social anxiety. This was not unlike his immediate environment coming into a broken home full of instability and unsettledness. It didn't take long for Don to seek a way in which he could express his feelings and observations of what was going on in the world around him. Even at the early age of 3, Don would try to get up to the piano to hear the sounds of music created by pressing a key. By the age of 8, Don was beginning to write lyrics and support them with melodies and simple chords. He was also learning to play songs that he heard on the radio at that time. Don recalls one of the first songs he learned by ear was "To Dream An Impossible Dream". Little did he know that would develop into more of the theme of his life as he grew older. He felt very limited as his Mother was a single parent trying to support both of them on a very limited pay as a secretary. There were many instances during Don's early childhood when he was required to live with other family members. God blessed in that these family members were nurturing and very supportive of his musical ability and did what they could to encourage and support him.
As he grew older he began to get involved in the areas of Music Education offered in public schools. Considering it was not feasible for Don to take private lessons, this offered a great deal of opportunity. He took up the clarinet as his primary instrument and began to excel quickly. By the 8th grade he was 2nd chair in the Houston area All Region Symphonic Band. He recalls dreaming of being a band director some day. We often don't see the big picture. God was using this training and experience to prepare Don for something greater than himself.
Don and his Mother moved to Tyler, TX as he was entering his high school years. God would bring Don into a new musical environment. One with a greater meaning and a bigger purpose. He began to get involved in a local church with a tremendous music program for youth. His new Youth Choir director would hold high standards for those she worked with and would expect those young musicians to rise up to that standard of excellence. Don found himself playing piano for the Youth Choir and quickly realized his director would expect him to play anything she gave to him. Considering he hadn't taken piano lessons and couldn't read the music, he would take the recordings home and learn them by ear. After learning so many songs by this method, it became easier over time for Don to listen and play about anything he heard. The next three years was a huge growing time for Don both musically and spiritually. Don began seeing the impact music could make when packaged in lyrics that shared the truth of God. It became his passion and lead him to surrender for full time service at age 17 just a year after surrendering his life to Christ.
The next few decades would be full of opportunity that Don would never have believed would come to pass as a child. He attended Arlington Baptist College under a full music scholarship. He played piano and sang for a small PR group for the school. They were busy every weekend flying to different locations around the country in the schools private 6 seater airplane. Toward the end of his freshman year of college, Don found out about a touring group doing a concert in his area that was looking for a new member. The group was a group called Sonlight. They were a national touring ministry and recording artists on a major record label. Don auditioned and was asked to join the group. Don spent the next 8 years touring with Sonlight until the group disbanded. In that period of time he had the opportunity to sing for both President Herbert Walker Bush and President Reagan. He also recorded several projects, had significant success in Christian radio, and many national television appearances. Don would say the pinnacle of success during his time with Sonlight was meeting his bride Michelle Smith while on tour in North Carolina in 1985. Don and Michelle married in December of that same year. Michelle joined Don on the road and the journey continued. In 1988 Don and Michelle packed up their belongings and their newborn son and moved from Austin, TX out to Nashville, TN. The passion for music was calling. With the loving support of his wife and a son who seemed to adjust to anything as long as he was with Mom and Dad, they headed off to Music City.
The early years in Nashville would prove to be challenging times for their young family. Don was doing his best to start a career in writing, recording, and other music related opportunities. Michelle ended up working full time to help support this new venture. They decided to avoid putting their new son Eric in child care so Michelle would work during the day and Don at night to allow one of them to be at home at all times. Don remembers taking Eric with him to writing appointments during the day and Eric would keep himself entertained for hours while Don would hammer out songs with other co-writers. This was definitely a God thing for a little toddler. There were many God things as He provided in many areas of their lives. Don was beginning to get cuts on various artists projects and songs in print as well including one of Prism musics best selling Octavos When The Heart Sings and a song in the Benson Easter Musical He Loved Me With A Cross produced and arranged by Larri Goss. Best friend and award winning writer Joel Lindsey was one of his first co-writers. They met his first night while working at J.C. Penney telemarketing center.
The time in Nashville came to a close with one of the most rewarding experiences in Don's career. He met up with Vince Wilcox. The relationship would evolve into the creation of the Christian Country duo Wilcox & Pardoe. Vince and Don eventually garnered the title as New Artist Of The Year in 1995 by CCMA (Christian Country Music Association). The duos project Till They Know How Much You Care had several #1 songs and numerous awards. Vince Wilcox was eventually offered a position as Vice President of Marketing for Brentwood Records. About the same time, Ed Nalle of the renown vocal group GLAD contacted Don for a possible audition. They were looking for a keyboardist and vocalist. Don flew to Northern Virginia where GLAD was based and it was a great fit. Don and his family then moved to Leesburg, VA.
Don would continue in GLAD for close to 8 years. In that period of time they travelled nationally, recorded over 5 projects, and toured Indonesia with Compassion International. Dons family had increased with the addition of two daughters as well. Life was full and growing. Don began venturing out into local church ministry as well during that time. He was working in the Worship ministries of both Leesburg Baptist Church, and Christian Fellowship Church in Reston, VA when he wasnt on the road with GLAD.
As time passed and Dons family grew, he could see that being home was taking more and more of a priority in his life and rightfully so. He started considering local church ministry and the opportunities seemed to increase in time as well. Over the next several years Don and his family would move back to his home state of Texas where he and his wife Michelle would end up involved in the ministries of Green Acres Baptist Church of Tyler, TX, Crossroads Fellowship in Odessa, TX, and currently First Baptist Church of Whitehouse, TX. Don was the full time Worship Pastor in the latter two and is currently full time at First Baptist Whitehouse. God also opened doors for him to lead worship for mission conferences in both Thailand and Kenya. In all three cases, a pretty significant transition took place in the Worship Ministries there. These transitions were healthy and productive where many seem to bring anxiety and descension. In all cases these churches experienced healthy growth. What is this attributed to? He would give all the credit to God. Don would tell you that it is all the years of seasoning by a hand much greater than ours.
When considering the position in GLAD, Don called one of the founding members Bob Kauflin to get some advice and guidance in making the decision. Bob told Don that he really needed to look back on his experience and consider what God might have prepared him for. To this day he would say he refers back to that advice in every path he approaches. When thinking of worship and what Don does for his church in Whitehouse, Don would say this is definitely what God has prepared me for.
Don continues to get opportunities to mentor other Worship Ministries and lead Worship conferences. He continues to write, record, and mentor other musicians in his church as well as many around the country. From a young boy with little hope of accomplishing much in what seemed to be a very limited future, he would say that his life verse has lived its truth over and over again through the boundary shattering events of the last few decades.
Proverbs 3:5&6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean NOT on YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING but in all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM and HE WILL direct your paths.
* Dons newest project is Shoulder To Shoulder. Produced and recorded by Don and his son Eric Pardoe. It is a recording representing the Worship Ministry of First Baptist Whitehouse, TX.
discography
Outta This World
Till They Know How Much You Care
Acappella Worship
Acappella Worship 2
Voices of Christmas
Pure And Holy Passion
God Of All Comfort
Shoulder To Shoulder
80's to present
press
What They Think
Having worked with Don Pardoe closely in a "transition environment", I
can honestly recommend him to anyone considering taking the plunge.
Moving from traditional to a more progressive worship style requires not
only talent in multiple genres, but a depth of soul that connects with
leaders, artists and volunteers in non-threatening ways. Don offers
these strengths and much more!
Reggie Baker
Administrative Pastor
CrossRoads Fellowship / Odessa, TX
Don Pardoe has been a long time friend and colleague in the ministry. He actually served on my staff during his transition from the very successful group GLAD, into the local church Worship Leader position. Don is one of the most talented, dedicated, and creative men I have ever known. He has had tremendous success in assisting churches with the transition from a traditional style of worship, into the more progressive and blended style. He has a great heart for God, a sincere love for people and the ability to motivate people to be the best they can be for our Lord. If you are searching for someone to assist you in moving your ministry to the next level, I would have no reservations in highly recommending Don Pardoe.
Mike Parks
Associate Pastor for Worship
Green Acres Baptist Church
Tyler, Texas
I have known Don Pardoe for the past two decades as a partner in ministry, business, and the creative process. Â Not only does he have an compelling musical talent, but the Lord has blessed Don with the ability to inspire laypersons and leaders alike to move beyond what's comfortable and convenient toward fresh, honest, and relevant expressions of worship.
Vince Wilcox,
Artist Management/Marketing Consulting
I've had the privilege of knowing Don Pardoe for many years. Few musicians that I've encountered have as much meaningful knowledge, combined with practical experience, as Don does. But what he knows is not as impressive as who he is - a uniquely gifted servant/leader with a passion for worship.
Marty Funderburk
Staff Writer/Producer
Daywind Music Group (Nashville, TN)
All my interactions with Don Pardoe have been characterized by humility, integrity, faithfulness, excellence, and a love for God's people. His heart to serve congregations that are considering moving from a conservative music format to something more contemporary is one more example of his passion to serve the church. I'm confident that any church that has him in will be equipped and encouraged to make such a transition with godly wisdom.
Bob Kauflin
Director Of Worship Development
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Gaithersburg, MD
"Don is not only a gifted worship leader, he's a gifted communicator. Don is easy to work with and has valuable insights gained from his years of experience in music and ministry."
Scott Krippayne
Singer/Songwriter/Producer
I've had the privilege of knowing Don for several years now as his friend and accountability partner. I've seen God work in and through Don to call many people to deeper, more meaningful worship - and not just through music, but through obedience and stewardship of life. Don humbly follows God's leadership, and good things just happen.
David Davault
Field Ministry Representative
FamilyLife® Weekend To Remember®
Little Rock, AR
Just want to let you know that Don Pardoe is a wonderful man of God who is committed to the mission God has called him to. Don is a "people person," one who genuinely cares about others and serves them with a willing heart. Don has been prepared by the Lord for this season, He equips the called!
Keith Mohr
President
http://www.indieheaven.com
Don is not your typical worship leader. Â He has a passion for pastoring through worship, but also has the amazing gift of writing original music. He has been able to use this talent while traveling with Glad, as well as sharing it with his own church. Â Through his experience at churches across the country and helping individual churches transition from traditional worship to contemporary, Don has developed a unique gift that can be beneficial for many churches still fighting the battle of worship style preference.
Justin Hayes
High School Minister
In my observation, Don Pardoe has always had a heart for genuine, authentic, worship in the local church. I have personally seen how he has taken a church from where it has been for years and successfully moved it forward musically to be more relevant and affective. I would encourage anyone desiring to do this with their church body, to give Don the opportunity to assist in making that transition healthy, productive, and God centered.
Dr. David Dykes
Pastor / Green Acres Baptist Church
Tyler, TX
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