Obituary of Donaciano R. Gomez

The Houston music scene lost a true giant when Donaciano R. "Don" Gomez passed away in hospice care at the age of 91 after a brief illness. For nearly five decades, Don was one of the most active, best-known, and well-liked concert bookers, promoters, and artist managers in the region. He is perhaps best known for his tenure as the owner/manager of the fabled Rockefeller's nightclub from 1980-1994, and had previously owned a talent agency. In more recent years, he lined up performers for venues as diverse as the Sam Houston Race Park, Mo's Place in Katy, Spring Crawfish Festival, and Mardi Gras in Galveston with his company, Big Productions. Don was inducted into the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame in 2008 in recognition for his many contributions. Over the years, he worked with a staggering amount of artists from Chuck Berry, Janis Joplin, Grand Funk Railroad Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, and Clint Black. He forged more personal friendships with blues legend B.B. King and jazz singer, Diane Schuur. Don Gomez was born on January 10, 1925 in Galveston, Texas to Donaciano Gomez, Sr. and Maria Ramos and served in the U.S. Air Force in the '40s and '50s. He never married and has no children, and outlived all eight of his siblings but he is survived by many nieces and nephews. Don was an avid "health nut" who, even after his 90th birthday, would regularly spend three hours a day walking "laps" (3 miles) inside the Galleria. Don's joyful (and sometimes cutting) sense of humor, warmth, and fairness to artists, employees, and business partners will long be remembered, and his sharp, infectious laugh is an audio file that those who knew him will mentally replay forever. The thrill of Don Gomez may be gone, but his memory will last forever in the Houston music community. A viewing and visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Joseph J. Earthman Generations, 234 Westcott St. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 23, 2016 at Covenant Church, 4949 Caroline St. Interment with military honors will follow at Houston National Cemetery. For more information, please visit josephjearthman.com or Don's Facebook page at facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011057350819.