DONDINO'S MEMOIR BOOK COMING SOON! written by Donna Gummelt

COMING SOON TO YOUR LOCAL BOOK STORES......
JESUS IS COMING TO BRANSON AND SO IS WAYNE!

written by: Donna Gummelt

edited and designed by: Reta Stewart Allen

Only those in the "show-biz" field would have any idea of the excitement,over-exaggerated adoration and sometimes sheer craziness that fans often bestow on entertainers. A couple of examples of the wildness that Dondino and his partner Donna Gummelt experienced are a "love-bit" stalker and a haunted house.

After performing in Las Vegas for 12 years,Dondino and Donna moved his show to what they thought would be the "safer" and more "normal" atmosphere Branson, Missouri. They were in for a surprise. Show business is show business, wherever it happens to be.

Two billboards that welcomed them to town could have been a tip-off. On one side of the road a billboard said "Jesus is Coming to Branson." The billboard across from it read "Wayne (newton) is Coming to Branson!" (Thus the title of the book).

Although they made many good friends in Branson, Dondino and Donna eventually decided it was time to return to Las Vegas, and later on to Iowa.

Dondino has been featured on the MDA Telethon, and even wrote a Variety Club Telethon theme song that has been re-recorded and incorporated into a children's bilingual picture book entitled "My Sunshine Friend," with the proceeds to benefit Variety, Children's Charity of Iowa.

BOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Van Harden from the Van and Bonnie Show, WHO Radio, Clear Channel, Des Moines, Iowa wrote: "After hearing an Iowa legend like Dondino for so many years, what a treat it is to hear ABOUT him. Many great things make Iowa what it is. Dondino is certainly one of them!"

Maxine Porter, President of Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters "I sincerely congratulate you for this literary effort. It is important to chronicle musical journeys for posterity, as we have done in 'Drifters 1: Bill Pinkney'.

Bill and I always treasured our friendship with Donna and Dondino, as well as our long standing business relationship, and I wish great success for you.

Dic Youngs KRNT 1350 AM, Des Moines, Iowa, "It has been my honor to know Dondino both as a friend and entertainer. As a friend he is very caring and has given to our community a great deal of his time. As an entertainer he also gives his all. He lights up the stage and has the ability to make every song his own. On a scale of 10, he's a solid 11. I'm very proud to be able to call him my friend."

Barbara Whitten Todd "Donna Wall Gummelt is a very special friend that goes back many, may years. We went to school together in Lubbock, Texas, and were friends during a very important time of our lives, adolescence. We graduated high school together and lived just a few doors apart our freshman year at Texas Tech University. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding in college. It is funny how life will have you go in different directions. Then one day the Lord put in my heart the need to find her, and I began searching for her. After many years wanting to find her, I came upon a website for children's bilingual books and discovered she was co-writing books with her entertainment partner Dondino. I feel lucky to call her my friend and I am so glad she is back in my life."

Ruth Schroeder (Tony Orlando's mom) "When I first met Dondino, many years ago in Las Vegas, I was immediately drawn to him. He was singing "Tie a Yellow Ribbon, of course my favorite song, and he instantly reminded me of my son Mickey (to his fans..Tony Orlando). Next to Tony, Dondino is the best singer I've ever heard. We became friends for life! Dondino became my second son. I will never forget him, and will love him always. He is an incredible singer and performer, but he is also a wonderful person."