Thirteen years ago, Don Haney, a University alumnus, was at the peak of his musical career. Haney was a three-time nominee for guitar player of the year by Los Angeles Music Awards, he charted the top blues stations in the country and received third place on Billboard Magazine’s Top 100 unsigned acts.

However, the music stopped for Haney in 2000. He said while playing guitar during a show, he felt an immense, sharp pain shoot through his spine. Haney had ruptured a disc and required surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery didn’t goes as planned, and Haney was left with limited function in his right hand.

“It took me 18 months before I could start to move it again. During that time, I couldn’t play music. I couldn’t hold a pick because I didn’t have any strength in my hand,” Haney recalled.

Haney was accustomed to hardship. His father kicked him out of his South Dakota home when he was only 12 years old. From there, Haney taught himself how to play guitar by using books and constantly listening to musicians’ jam sessions.

He attempted to make amends with his father in Chicago, and although the venture was unsuccessful, Haney left inspired by the blues.

“I was wandering around The Loop, and I heard this guitar lick and it went into my ears and down to my toes. It was like nothing I’d ever heard before in my life, and right then and there, that was it,” Haney explained with the fervor of talking about a first love.

At age 16 he said he knew he either had “to learn as much about guitar as he could or forget about it entirely.”

He chose the former. Haney had migrated down south to Gonzales because he knew a relative in the area. With no formal education, Haney acquired his GED and enrolled at the University to study music composition.

“The music professors tried to talk me out of majoring in music. I mean, they had these child prodigies … and they were fabulous classical musicians, and here I am, a blues player,” Haney chuckled. “So in hindsight, I can see why they thought, ‘Yeah, this is ridiculous.’”

Haney went on to prove his professors wrong, playing in various bands and achieving national acclaim.

But when he lost the use of his hand, he retired and moved back to South Dakota. He assumed his music career was over.

He spent much of his 10-year hiatus from music contemplating his situation, and he continued to write music.

“It was terrible,” Haney said. “I wondered what the hell would God give me this gift for and then take it away like that?”

About four years ago, Haney underwent a second surgery to repair the function to his hand, and it was a success. He slowly began to gain strength back in his hand.

Haney considered himself still retired from the music scene until he met Bubba Startz, a young bass player who frequented the South Dakota music circuit.

Haney and Startz eventually started making music together and later joined up with Shantel Bolks, a singer and sax player. The group became known as Don Haney & The Prime Rib Special.

“We started playing, and it’s just magic. That’s why I can’t retire; it’s just truly magic. That’s the sound I’ve been looking for my whole life — it was Bubba and Shantel,” Haney said.

The band has been touring around the nation, and Haney is gearing up for a homecoming.

Haney said he’s excited to be back in Louisiana because the people appreciate blues more than anywhere else in the country.

Don Haney and his band will also be recording an album in Baton Rouge, which is set to be released in the summer.

Don Haney & The Prime Rib Special will play at the Texas Club on May 3.

“I was wandering around The Loop, and I heard this guitar lick and it went into my ears and down to my toes. It was like nothing I’d ever heard before in my life, and right then and there, that was it.”