Donald Ivan Fontowitz - (guitars)
Donald was raised in a small beach community in Southern California in the 60s amidst an eclectic mix of surfers, spiritual seekers, artists and bohemians. As the grandson of a world-famous Talmudic and Kabbalistic Rabbi and scholar from the mystical village of Safed, Israel, Donald grew up surrounded by Jewish ritual, celebrations and learning. Under the influence of his family, the spiritual search for truth and transcendent experience became a motivating force in Donald’s life. At the age of fifteen, he was sent on the first of a series of trips to Israel on pilgrimage to visit his family home and his mother’s birthplace, journeys that opened up direct contact with the ancient world of his mystical ancestry. On return to the United States, Donald came across the writings of J. Krishnamurti. Donald’s circle of high school friends began to read Krishnamurti together on the beach. To their excitement, they discovered that the Indian teacher had a retreat center a couple of hours up the coast in Ojai. Among Donald’s friends from that time was Eric Schiffman, now a highly regarded yoga teacher who would later go on to study with Krishnamurti in England. Listening to Krishnamurti lecture from his humble chair on an empty stage under the shady oak trees that summer was a transformative experience that would help Donald clarify his experiences in Israel. Krishnamurti’s teachings instilled in him the power and beauty of a simple, rational and fearless method of mindful meditation. They fit well with the ecstatic direct communication with the divine that he had seen in Judaism and would point the way to Donald’s lifelong dedication to the teachings of the Buddha.
Years later, Donald joined a small Zen Buddhist community in Mendocino in Northern California, where he lived for two years practicing meditation under the guidance of Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi. Donald’s musical odyssey also began to take shape during these years in the redwoods. A strong attraction to Gypsy, middle-eastern and flamenco music led him to study oud and flamenco guitar. Traveling to Spain to study flamenco guitar in the villages of Southern Spain became a regular part of his life during those years and led to a long-time position playing guitar for Rosa Montoya’s Bailes Flamencos dance company. He toured internationally, performed on the Jay Leno show with New Age guitarist Ottmar Leibert and founded flamenco-salsa band Sol y Luna.
Donald was introduced to Native American spiritual practices through the sweat lodge and Native American Church, and in 2004, a Cheyenne healer and Chief, Eugene Blackbear, formally adopted him as a nephew. Donald spent many hours learning Uncle Eugene’s songs and ceremonial ways, and has assisted him as drummer in healing and prayer services. In 2000, Donald began a seven-year apprenticeship with T’ai Chi Chuan Grand Master K.C. Mao, eventually becoming his assistant and being authorized to teach T’ai Chi in 2006. Donald met Prajna in 2006 and immediately struck up a musical and personal friendship based on their shared desire to create music dedicated to the divine within all beings. All his music is offered with the deepest feeling of gratitude and praise to Elohim, the Unity. Amen.
Donald was raised in a small beach community in Southern California in the 60s amidst an eclectic mix of surfers, spiritual seekers, artists and bohemians. As the grandson of a world-famous Talmudic and Kabbalistic Rabbi and scholar from the mystical village of Safed, Israel, Donald grew up surrounded by Jewish ritual, celebrations and learning. Under the influence of his family, the spiritual search for truth and transcendent experience became a motivating force in Donald’s life. At the age of fifteen, he was sent on the first of a series of trips to Israel on pilgrimage to visit his family home and his mother’s birthplace, journeys that opened up direct contact with the ancient world of his mystical ancestry. On return to the United States, Donald came across the writings of J. Krishnamurti. Donald’s circle of high school friends began to read Krishnamurti together on the beach. To their excitement, they discovered that the Indian teacher had a retreat center a couple of hours up the coast in Ojai. Among Donald’s friends from that time was Eric Schiffman, now a highly regarded yoga teacher who would later go on to study with Krishnamurti in England. Listening to Krishnamurti lecture from his humble chair on an empty stage under the shady oak trees that summer was a transformative experience that would help Donald clarify his experiences in Israel. Krishnamurti’s teachings instilled in him the power and beauty of a simple, rational and fearless method of mindful meditation. They fit well with the ecstatic direct communication with the divine that he had seen in Judaism and would point the way to Donald’s lifelong dedication to the teachings of the Buddha.
Years later, Donald joined a small Zen Buddhist community in Mendocino in Northern California, where he lived for two years practicing meditation under the guidance of Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi. Donald’s musical odyssey also began to take shape during these years in the redwoods. A strong attraction to Gypsy, middle-eastern and flamenco music led him to study oud and flamenco guitar. Traveling to Spain to study flamenco guitar in the villages of Southern Spain became a regular part of his life during those years and led to a long-time position playing guitar for Rosa Montoya’s Bailes Flamencos dance company. He toured internationally, performed on the Jay Leno show with New Age guitarist Ottmar Leibert and founded flamenco-salsa band Sol y Luna.
Donald was introduced to Native American spiritual practices through the sweat lodge and Native American Church, and in 2004, a Cheyenne healer and Chief, Eugene Blackbear, formally adopted him as a nephew. Donald spent many hours learning Uncle Eugene’s songs and ceremonial ways, and has assisted him as drummer in healing and prayer services. In 2000, Donald began a seven-year apprenticeship with T’ai Chi Chuan Grand Master K.C. Mao, eventually becoming his assistant and being authorized to teach T’ai Chi in 2006. Donald met Prajna in 2006 and immediately struck up a musical and personal friendship based on their shared desire to create music dedicated to the divine within all beings. All his music is offered with the deepest feeling of gratitude and praise to Elohim, the Unity. Amen.