Lusher was born in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England,[1] and started playing the trombone aged six years old in his local Salvation Army band, the third generation of his family to do so.
[1][3] Lusher spent nine years as lead trombone with Ted Heath's Orchestra and toured the United States with him on five occasions.
After several attempts to revive the band, Don took over the leadership in 1976 at the request of Ted Heath's widow, Moira.
He led the 'Ted Heath Tribute Orchestra' throughout the 1980s and 1990s until its sold-out final concert at the Royal Festival Hall in December 2000.
[5] In 1993 he was awarded the status of Freeman of the City of London, and in 2002 Lusher received an OBE for services to the music industry.