Born in Youngstown, Ohio on January 17, 1927 Donald Erb began his musical career at an early age. While he was visiting his Great Aunt during the summer months, she would give him trumpet lessons to keep him busy. After serving in the Navy in World War II he made his living playing trumpet in jazz bands before enrolling at Kent State University and earning his BA in 1950. In 1953 he earned his Master of Arts degree in Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) where he studied composition under Marcel Dick. He went on to study under Nadia Boulanger in Paris before returning to CIM to teach composition and theory. Around this time, Erb began to experiment with the relationship between the sound capabilities of traditional instruments and electronic synthesized sound to create his unique sound and style. In 1964, he received his Doctorate of Music from Indiana University where he studied under Bernard Heiden.

From 1966-1981, Erb served as the composer-in-residence at CIM, where he began to gain national recognition for his works. During that time he also served as the composer-in-residence with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for the 1968-1969 season as well as professor of composition at Indiana University from 1975-1976 and again from 1984-1987. From 1981-1984 he served as professor of composition at Southern Methodist University. In 1987 Erb returned to CIM as the Distinguished Professor of Composition where he became professor emeritus in 1996. In 1996 ill health prompted him to end most of his activities as both a composer and lecturer. Erb died on August 12, 2008 at his home in Cleveland Heights at age 81.