Donny Baldwin

Who is Donny Baldwin?

Donny Baldwin is an American drummer best known as a member of Jefferson Starship and its continuation Starship.

Baldwin began his career as a drummer for Elvin Bishop during the 1970s, where he worked with future Jefferson Starship bandmate Mickey Thomas. When the Elvin Bishop band disbanded he joined Santa Cruz band Snail and gigged around the Bay Area until 1982. After Aynsley Dunbar left Jefferson Starship in 1982, Baldwin replaced him and joined his old band mate Thomas; he made his recorded debut with the band on the Nuclear Furniture LP in 1984. He remained with the band, which soon took the name Starship, until their final studio album, Love Among the Cannibals. In 1989, Baldwin assaulted Thomas while Starship was on tour in Scranton, Pennsylvania; Thomas required reconstructive surgery on his face and head, and Baldwin was fired from the band. From 1994 until its demise in 1995, Baldwin drummed for the Jerry Garcia Band. He rejoined the reformed Jefferson Starship in 2008, replacing Prairie Prince, and performed on the tour in support of the 2008 studio album Jefferson's Tree of Liberty.