Dueling Duos // The DonJuans vs Tom Paxton & Tom Rush

City Winery Nashville presents The DonJuans

Benefitting Music Health Alliance on Wednesday, August 30

Doors at 6:00pm // Show at 7:30pm

In 2022, The DonJuans launched their “Dueling Duos” series in an effort to #HealTheMusic supporting Music Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization offering FREE healthcare and mental health care advocacy for the music community — because no one should have to go it alone.

By their name, you might assume that The DonJuans rely merely on their good looks. However, you’ll be impressed to know that the group includes two GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriters — Don Henry and Jon Vezner. Their song, “Where’ve You Been” (recorded by Kathy Mattea) was the first song in country music history to sweep all major song of the year honors including the GRAMMY®, ACM®, CMA, and the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International (NSAI) awards.

In the nearly 35 years since “Where’ve You Been,” Don and Jon have performed in venues across the country, sharing stages with artists as diverse as Joey Ramone, John Hartford, Michael Johnson, and David Crosby. Their songs have been recorded by a multitude of artists including Janis Ian, Ray Charles, John Mellencamp, and Miranda Lambert to name a few. Working as a duo, The DonJuans bring an impressive array of songs, experience, and gifted musicianship.

Tom Paxton has become a voice of his generation, addressing issues of injustice and inhumanity, laying bare the absurdities of modern culture and celebrating the tenderest bonds of family, friends, and community. In describing his influence on Tom’s fellow musicians, Pete Seeger said, “Tom’s songs have a way of sneaking up on you. You find yourself humming them, whistling them, and singing a verse to a friend. Like the songs of Woody Guthrie, they’re part of America. His music is reaching around the world more than he is, or any of us could have realized. Keep on, Tom!” [Read More]

Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a musical celebration — a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor, and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads, and the passion of gritty blues. [Read More]