In the early morning hours of February 4th, this world lost a great man and a pioneer in Georgia Bluegrass. Donnie A. Lee gained his well deserved and earned Angel Wings and transitioned to a place of Joy, Peace, Love and extraordinary Reunions which we can never experience here on this earth.
His life story is truly a model of family, kindness and service to others that we all should attempt daily to replicate. His patience, guidance and council has made me a better man. I do, and will always miss my friend, Donnie! Much love to all of Donnie’s family.
Donnie’s first exposure to music came early in his life and facilitated by his mother who, along with her sisters, sang in the “Kansas Ladies Quartet”. They traveled to various locations to perform including Birmingham, Alabama. Donnie and his brother Barry were encouraged to take piano lessons as music was an important part of their family life. Donnie’s uncle played a clawhammer style banjo, which Donnie loved and initiated his path towards string music.
In 1947, while stationed in Fort Knox Kentucky, Donnie’s father took him to see Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. At this time, the group lineup was Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Chubby Wise and Cedrick Rainwater. Donnie was hooked!
Now, as a passionate bluegrass fan, he along with Joe Partridge founded the L&P Express ( 1971 – 1973 ) which was later changed to “Bullsboro”. Bullsboro was the original name of the City of Newnan before the Civil War. Members of the band at that time were, Donnie, Joe, Tommy McKoon and Junior Bundy.
In May 1973, Donnie and Joe started the Bullsboro Bluegrass Festival at the Coweta County fairgrounds in Newnan, Georgia and was the third Bluegrass festival established in the State of Georgia and that continued until 1980, when the festival was moved to Peachtree City, Georgia at the McIntosh Opry Amphitheater for two years. The festival site changed location to Carrollton, Georgia for the 1982 and 1983 festivals, which were the last of the Bullsboro Bluegrass Festivals. According to Donnie, “after 10 years, we decided we had lost as much money as we could afford to lose to promote buegrass music”. During the Bullsboro Festival days, Donnie coined the phrase ” You Can’t Beat Class, Pick Bluegrass” and the signage was always displayed on the festival stage.
In October of 1973, Donnie met Mike Steed and Johnny Jackson at the Cobb Bluegrass Festival in Marietta, Georgia as they were jamming by Mike’s car. The next day they joined Bullsboro onstage and soon after joined the band. The configuration then was Donnie Lee on Bass, Mike Steed on Guitar, Johnny Jackson on Mandolin and Joe Partridge on Banjo.
Johnny Jackson / Donnie Lee / Joe Partridge / Mike Steed
* Joe Partridge passed away on August 30th 1990
In 1975, Joe left the band and Butch Adams stepped in on banjo. This lineup lasted for several years and produced the first Bullsboro LP in 1978. This was a Live recording in Carrollton, Ga and is also affectionately known as The Brown Album!
The Bullsboro LP from 1978 recorded Live in Carrollton Georgia
1. Hamilton County Breakdown
2. Break My Mind
3. Frisco
4. Joys of Quebec
5. Big Spike Hammer
6. Pallet on the Floor
7. What Kind of Man
8. It’s Me Again Lord
9. Wash in the Blood
10. Rebel Soldier
11. He Was a Friend of Mine
12. Where the Soul Never Dies
In the late 1970’s, Tony Duck joined the band playing lead guitar. Pictured here:
Butch Adams – Banjo
Donnie Lee – Bass
Tony Duck – Lead Guitar
Mike Steed – Rhythm – Guitar
Johnny Jackson – Mandolin
* “Butch” Victor Allen Adams passed away on April 5th, 2006.
In 1981, Mike and Johnny left the band and Butch decided soon after to exit as well.
Donnie and Tony continued on for the next three years using several banjo & guitar players to fill in on shows including Don Dysart, Dale Tilly, Al Smith, Joe Coffee, Ricky Rakestraw, David Ellis.
Mike found his way back to help out on guitar with Zach Steed occasionally sitting in.
Donnie Lee – Bass
Johnny Slaton – Guitar
Tony Duck – Mandolin
Jeff Partridge – Banjo
In late 1984, Donnie recruited Johnny Slaton and Jeff Partridge to join the band. Previously, Johnny and Jeff had played with the Bluegrass Engineers based in Tyrone, Georgia and as the new configuration began to settle in, new material found it’s way into the band’s set lists. The band consisted of Donnie Lee on Bass, Tony Duck on Mandolin, Johnny Slaton on Guitar and Jeff Partridge on Banjo. This configuration played together through 1990. Jeff left the band due to work and family responsibilities. In July of 1992, Johnny Slaton unexpectedly passed away at the age of 35.
The band continued on with Mike Steed returning after the death of Johnny Slaton and in 1994, his son Zach Steed joined the band playing guitar and singing lead and tenor. Tony Duck had left the band and Todd Freeman filled the mandolin position along with Jeff Barr on Banjo.
Todd Freeman – Mandolin
Donnie Lee – Bass
Jeff Barr – Banjo
Mike Steed – Guitar
Zach Steed – Guitar
This band line up continued until Todd and Jeff left the band to form the band “Four Winds West” in late 1996. David Steed, who was an accomplished guitar player, agreed to learn mandolin and joined the band in January of 1997 along with Al Smith on Banjo and Wally Alford on dobro. This configuration played together until mid 1999 when Al left the band for other opportunities and Wally left in late 2000 to concentrate on his band “Counterpoint”. Pictured below is Bullsboro at the Powers Crossroads Arts & Crafts festival with Jeff Barr filling in on Banjo
Wally Alford – Dobro
Jeff Barr – Banjo
Donnie Lee – Bass
Zach Steed – Guitar
David Steed – Mandolin
*Wally Alford passed away on October 24th, 2024.
In early 2000, with the banjo position open, Donnie reached out to Jeff Partridge to return and fill that spot. With Donnie Lee on Bass, Mike Steed on Guitar, Zach Steed on Guitar, David Steed on Mandolin and Jeff Partridge on Banjo, this lineup produced the second recorded project called “Still Bullsboro After All These Years” in 2002.
2002
- Can’t You Hear Me Callin’
- Summer Days ( With Daddy Bill)
- You Win Again
- Our Love Is Like A Flower
- Dark Hollow
- In His Care
- Working Man Blues
- Bobby McGee
- Sittin’ On Top Of The World
- In The Pines
- Lonesome Heartache Blues
- Bluegrass Stomp
- With My Savior I’ll Abide
- Would You Lay With Me ( In A Field Of Stone )
- White Freightliner Blues
Listen to “In His Care” 5 part harmony with Donnie singing lead and Mike singing Bass.
Bullsboro
In His Care
Other musicians that played shows with Bullsboro include David Ellis ( banjo & mandolin) and Brett Martin ( banjo ).
Bullsboro at Everett’s Music Barn – July 19th, 2014
Jeff Partridge
Zach Steed
Donnie Lee
David Steed
Mike Steed
Bullsboro appeared annually at the Powers Cross Roads Arts & Crafts festivals held each Labor Day Weekend! This event started in 1971 and continued until 2012. Donnie was instrumental in organizing the Powers Cross Road Bluegrass Festivals held at the Arts & Crafts grounds.
Donnie was involved with the Hoofers Gospel & Bluegrass Barn festivals in LaGrange Georgia and served as MC for the Bluegrass Festivals.
In 2017, Bullsboro was named Bluegrass Band Of The Year by the Atlanta Society of Entertainers.
Donnie was a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame and received the Atlanta Society of Entertainers Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other honors throughout the years.
Donnie Lee with Phyllis Cole
Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame
Donnie Lee and Mike Steed
Bullsboro continued playing through the end of 2018 after almost 50 years of great music.
Sadly, Mike Steed passed away on April 16th, 2020 after a courageous battle with Cancer.
Click to hear an Interview of Donnie conducted by Bill Brown and Mike Fleming as part of the North Georgia Bluegrass Chronicles Project on December 17th, 2003. LISTEN TO INTERVIEW
Donnie proudly served the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles for 34 years. During his career, he advanced to the positions of Board Executive Officer, Area Supervisor for Northwest Georgia and Assistant Director of Field Operations. He was a Master Instructor for the Training Division where he demonstrated his wisdom and wit in teaching hundreds of Parole Board employees over the years. In his last position before retiring, Donnie was the Venue Commander for law enforcement at the boxing venue during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Donnie was known for his professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public service. His work was more than a job, rather, it was a calling, and he carried that responsibility with honor and pride.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 15, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Hightower Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Jason Hatchett officiating and Mr. Jeff Partridge providing the eulogy.
