Mr Doug's Bio

Mr Doug got his start in music as many others do.. by participating in church music as a child.  

In addition to playing in church, he took lessons at the local music shop (Dew Music, in Monroe, LA) on guitar and bass guitar, and started picking up piano and keyboard on his own, by using his guitar knowledge and generalizing that over to the piano.  

Mr Doug played in many gospel groups in the late 70s, throughout the 80s, and into the 90s, and traveled to churches all over the country.  One opportunity led to another, and Mr Doug eventually enrolled in and attended a Bible college in Jackson MS to receive formal training in music, with the intent of becoming a church music director.  As a result of his training and extensive church music background, Mr Doug has been able to work with churches and worship groups throughout his career.

In addition to his church work, Mr Doug had a long and successful career in the secular music business, and worked as a piano and keyboard technician with such artists and groups as Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Tony Bennett, Bruce Hornsby, Chicago, The Grateful Dead, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Peter Cetera, Herbie Hancock, Herb Alpert, Dionne Warwick, Liza Minelli, Sandi Patti, the Imperials, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Michael Bolton, and many, many others.  

In 2003, Mr Doug opened Doug Norton Music in Poquoson, VA, a very small (400sf) music retail store and teaching studio.  This small store grew into Peninsula Music, with two locations in Poquoson and Yorktown VA, and served over 200 students a week in private piano, guitar, bass, drums, violin, and voice lessons, as well as group lesson programs with Newport News Parks and Rec, York County Parks and Rec, and an extension program conducted at Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News.

In addition to his musical training and experience, Mr Doug has a BS in Special Education, and an M.Ed in Instructional Technology.  He also holds a VA teaching license in K-12 Special Education, and is highly qualified in Elementary Education.

Mr Norton is originally from the Monroe, Louisiana, area, and he and his family have been in Hampton Roads for over 20 years.  He lives in Poquoson with wife Laurie (she is also an educator, having retired just this fall from Newport News Public Schools as a special education supervisor) and dog Tank.  He has two adult sons who live in Newport News and Hampton (Seth and Zach, with daughters in law Carissa and Ashley), and a new granddaughter, Rowyn Paige.