It is with great sadness that the ADJ Group marks the passing and celebrates the life of valued colleague and dear friend, Donn Nelson. He died on February 10, 2024 at the age of 70. A well-known and much-respected industry veteran, Donn led Pro Media Marketing, ADJ’s manufacturer’s representative firm covering Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and West Pennsylvania.
Donn David Nelson was born in 1953 and grew up in Ann Arbor, MI. Raised with a strong work ethic, he started his first job in middle school, fixing bikes at Campus Bike and Toy. At around the same time, he began learning to play the guitar, a passion that stayed with him throughout his life and set him on the path to a career in the music industry. He soon began playing in bands, including one named ‘Hooker Charlie’, which started booking paying gigs at local high schools, won a battle of the bands competition and was even invited to play at Jackson State Prison!
Having left school, Donn went on tour as a roadie for Brownsville Station before securing his first sales job at Al Nailli Music in Ann Arbor. There he began honing his sales skills selling guitars, including one to Ted Nugent! After moving into the wholesale side of the business, he became one of the first JBL reps in the USA and went on to represent almost every major music industry brand during a career that spanned 50 years.
A man of many talents, Donn did step away from the music industry for a while and instead put his extensive carpentry skills to good use, working as a general contractor. However, a back injury caused him to return to sales and he soon founded his own rep firm, Pro Media Marketing, in 1992. The company initially represented a variety of audio brands before branching out into lighting. This really took off when Pro Media was hired to represent ADJ in 2008 and the business enjoyed a period of significant growth. It allowed Donn to share his vast sales knowledge and experience with an expanding team, which included two of his sons, Christopher Nelson and Michael Nelson (who has now succeeded Donn as President of Pro Media Marketing Inc.).
“Donn was a consummate salesman, he always had a cellphone to his ear selling stuff,” remembers Michael. “In fact, one of his favorite quotes was, ‘go sell something!’ But his superpower was connecting with people, and he made friends wherever he went. I remember during my early days at Pro Media, walking the show floor at NAMM with him and we couldn’t go more than a few paces before someone stopped him to chat – he literally knew everyone in the industry and people loved spending time with him. He was also always a big fan of California and visited as often as he could, which made LA-headquartered ADJ a great fit. We’ve both always liked working for ADJ, it feels like being a part of a big extended family. Pro Media also has that family feel, and Donn has left the company in great shape to allow myself, and my brother Chris, to continue his legacy for many years to come.”
Donn had a passion for life that extended beyond his work. He enjoyed classic cars (or just cars, as they were to him!) and would regularly visit car shows in Detroit and other cities with his sons while they were growing up. Towards the end of his life, he enjoyed driving around in his early ‘80s Chevy C10, a black short bed pickup truck with a 454 engine that ensured you always heard him coming! He also enjoyed road trips with friends and family, playing and listening to music, working on classic bikes, and sharing his love for Disney World. A true connoisseur of the simple pleasures, Donn enjoyed the comfort of classic American diners, drive-ins and dives, sipping on coffee, and indulging in his favorite donuts. His kindness and generosity were boundless, leaving an enduring impact on all fortunate enough to call him a friend.
“Donn was an industry icon, a true legend of all legends,” comments ADJ’s Director of Sales, Alfred Gonzales. “Not only was he one of my favorite Sales Representatives to work with, but I considered him to be a true friend who I will personally miss dearly. I’ll miss working out on the road with him, the laughs we would share, and most of all his warm friendship. Along with the rest of the ADJ family, I offer my sincerest condolences to Mike, Chris and the rest of Donn’s family and many friends. He was a true gentleman who had big dreams and the warmest of hearts. Cheers to the undisputed Donn of the industry, this one’s for you my friend, California Dreamin’.”
