Don Lanphere was born in Wenatchee, Washington State. His father ran the biggest music store in town which is where Don first encountered jazz. His first big influence was Coleman Hawkins whose most famous solos he carefully learned. In his teens he often joined famous name bands like Jimmie Lunceford when they played in nearby Seattle.

He moved to North Western University, Illinois to study music and played in and around Chicago. When the leader Johnny Bothwell was playing a Chicago club in 1948 with his combo he engaged the young tenor player. The group then went to New York and was appearing at an uptown club where Don was fired for stealing Bothwell's current girl- Chan Richardson, the future Mrs. Charlie Parker. Lanphere's tenor style was by now heavily influenced by the new music and his growing reputation secured him a record date with the trend setting Max Roach/Fats Navarro band.

Woody Herman then enaged him in late 1949 to become one of the "post four brothers" and was in the band for the November Carnegie Hall concert. He next joined the short lived Artie Shaw band that played at Birdland in 1950. He also recorded the bop inflected Gramercy Five Shaw originals like "Shekomeko Shuffle". Inevitably he became part of the Charlie Parker circle and made a series of portable tape recordings of Parker notably those that became known as the Apartment Sessions. The rest of the following decade and a half was punctuated by narcotic difficulties causing him to return to his father's store in Wenatchee. His life was dramatically changed in the early 70's by becoming a born again Christian. This was reflected in a new positive approach to playing.

In 1982, he was invited by Arkansas businessman William Craig to make a quintet recording which was released by Hep Records and marked his return to the scene. Lanphere, like his mentor Herman, has the gift of finding and inspiring young players. In particular, he has eagerly promoted the talents of pianist Marc Seales and trumpeter Jon Pugh. These musicians are heard on his subsequent recordings for Hep Records. The most successful of these was an album of love songs he dedicated to his wife of over thirty five years Midge - "Don Loves Midge". The sequel "Don Still Loves Midge" is a further testament to the value Lanphere has found in his long marriage.

For the last twenty or so years, Don taught and encouraged other young jazz talents in the Seattle area, performed around the United States, and annually participated at the Port Townsend Jazz Seminar organized by Bud Shank.

In early October, 2003, Don passed away due to liver failure. He is survived by his wife Midge. There have been few young saxophone players in the area who have not benefited by his great teaching patience and dedication to the cause of good music.