From the Battlefield to the Recording Studio: The Donnie Reis Story.
What does a classical violin, a military uniform, and a Nashville songwriting session have in common? They are all instruments in the symphony of Donnie Reis's life.
In this raw and riveting episode of Talking Tipsy, host Dallas Jackson sits down with the War Hippies co-founder to trace his path from disciplined violinist to celebrated producer and composer.
This is a masterclass in reinvention, exploring how to harmonize every part of your life—even the most dissonant experiences—into a career that resonates with truth.
Themes We Explore:
⌁ The Art of the Pivot: Trading the classical canon for the storytelling heart of Country music.
⌁ Composing from Conflict: How combat in Iraq forged a deeper, more resonant songwriting voice.
⌁ Inside the Producer's Booth: The shift from performer to the architect of a record's sound.
⌁ Stories from the Road: Behind-the-mic moments from the Grand Ole Opry and touring with legends.
⌁ Building a Band: The genesis and mission of the War Hippies.
If Donnie's journey resonates with you, what was your biggest takeaway?
What part of your own story is waiting to be written?
🗨️ Let us know in the comments.
—
Follow Talking Tipsy for more unfiltered conversations with creators @tipseemusic
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Connect with Donnie Reis:
https://donniereis.com/
https://www.instagram.com/donniereismusic/?hl=en
https://warhippies.com/en-ca
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Chapters ⏲️
00:00 Introduction to Talking Tipsy
00:46 Meet Donnie Reese
01:58 Donnie's Early Life and Education
03:46 Discovering the Violin
10:38 Transition to Country Music
10:54 Playing with the Charlie Daniels Band
19:21 First Live Performances
22:00 Memorable Venues and Performances
24:10 Playing at the Grand Ole Opry
25:00 Journey into Music Production
27:58 From TV Scores to Songwriting
33:45 Military Service and Its Influence
37:38 Reflecting on Military Experiences
46:27 Honoring Fallen Comrades
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Hashtags ✨
#WarHippies #DonnieReis #SoldierToSongwriter #MusicInterview #NashvilleMusic #VeteranMusician #SongwriterLife #MusicProduction #BehindTheMusic #GrandOleOpry #MilitaryArtist #MusicJourney #ClassicalViolin #CountryMusic #ArtistReinvention #MusicIndustry #Podcast
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