He attended Doherty Memorial High School, where his interests in songwriting began to flourish and furthered his musical studies at the University of Arizona.

[2] He performed his song, "If We Fell in Love Again," receiving a standing ovation that prompted Jerry Lewis to hold an unscheduled interview with the young composer.

[3] In 1983, producers of the Jerry Lewis Telethon commissioned Donnie to write their national jingle promoting the annual Labor Day broadcast.

In February 2009, Donnie Demers performed "Benediction (Let the Best of You Go Free)", the theme song that he wrote for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho.

[4] On April 22–25, 2015, Donnie's song, "Inspire the World" (co-written by Terry Coffey) was featured throughout the FIRST Robotics Competition in St Louis, Missouri at Edward Jones Dome.