Crash Kills Guitarist Don Griffin


Don Griffin, guitarist for Anita Baker and The Miracles, was killed in an auto accident Thursday in Denver, according to Billboard. He was 60 years old.

As brother to Billy Griffin, lead singer for the Miracles, Don started playing lead and rhythm guitar for the band in 1974. The Miracles were revamping with younger funk-influenced musicians. Don’s fresh and innovative ideas were at the forefront of the group’s rebirth. The goal was to give the group a new, contemporary Dance/R&B sound. Griffin played guitar on the group’s double-platinum album City of Angels and the hit single “Love Machine,” which sold over four million units across the world. The tune was later sampled into Ceelo Green’s 2002 hit single “Closet Freak” and also into the 2010 gold single by Drake “Miss Me.” Don later became the fifth vocal member of the group, replacing Marv Tarplin.

Don Griffin was also leader and member of a band, with jazz artist Gerald Albright, named Madagascar. They recorded their first album, Spirit of the Street, and were signed to Arista records in 1981. Producer Clive Davis worked with the group after The Miracles had broken up. Their best known hit was “Baby Not Tonight.” Don continued to work with Billy on his brother’s solo album Be With Me.

Griffin later re-teamed with his brother Billy to tour as guitarist on his solo project. Don collaborated with Billy on the platinum hit single “Hold Me Tighter in the Rain.”

In 1986, Don Griffin was recruited by Anita Baker to become her rhythm guitarist. Griffin lent his distinctive licks to the Rapture album which sold over eight million units worldwide. Don went on to play with numerous other established R&B artists, ranging from Cheryl Lynn and Maurice White to Earl Klugh, LaLa Hathaway, and Donna Summer. Griffin was a talented session player and was instrumental in many of the most memorable songs of the ’70s and ’80s. Don also had begun working on some smooth jazz tracks, according to Soultracks.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Don Griffin was a child prodigy. Griffin expressed his musical ability at an early age and joined the Peabody Conservatory of Music at 17. As a teenager, he was plucked from the art school to perform and tour with The Miracles.

Recently in 2015, Griffin was writing songs and rehearsing a new funk band in Denver for a Las Vegas engagement this coming Christmas season. Don is survived by his son, Brandon, brother Billy Griffin, and his sister, Diane Pruitt.

[Photo via Billboard]

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