Donny Parenteau


Donny Parenteau is singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best for known his solo career and his work as fiddle player, guitarist, and mandolin player for country music singer Neal McCoy. In February 2011, Parenteau signed with the record label 306 Records/EMI Music Canada to help distribute his albums.

Early life

At 14, Parenteau took up the fiddle. After mastering the fiddle, he picked up other instruments like the guitar and the mandolin. Parenteau cites some of his influences as Bryan Sklar, Freddie Pelltier, and George Pistun

Career

After picking up the violin at a young age, by 19 he was playing professionally. In 1991, Parenteau was playing in Edmonton, Alberta and was invited to a show by Neal McCoy who was also playing in Edmonton. Upon talking with McCoy, Parenteau discovered they had similar taste in music. McCoy was looking for a fiddle player, but didn't have the money to hire one. Parenteau wanted the chance to audition and would not let up until he got the chance to audition. Parenteau listened to the group jamming and had a grasp of what they were playing. It was that song he would use as the audition piece. During his time touring with McCoy, Parenteau got to open for such artists as Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Buck Owens, George Jones, Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams, Jr., Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, and Shania Twain. Parenteau also graced the Grand Ole Opry stage. Parenteau was the only member of the live band that was also on the recordings. After performing with Neal McCoy for 12 years and playing 250–300 shows a year, Parenteau returned to Prince Albert to embark on a solo career.

Charity work

Parenteau has done a number of humanitarian and charity work. Evidence of that was winning the 2001 SCMA International Humanitarian Award. Parenteau has also made appearances on Telemiracle starting on the 32nd edition of the telethon. Parenteau co-wrote the current Telemiracle opening theme song with Brad Johner entitled "You are the Miracle". It became the theme in 2011. He also embarks on a tour of elementary schools in Saskatchewan each year as a motivational speaker in which he spreads his message of anti-bullying.

Discography

Studio albums

What It Takes
  1. "Country Calling Me
  2. "Old Man Thibodeaux"
  3. "Postmarked Heaven"
  4. "Father Time
  5. "Backyard Swing"
  6. "Someone More Lonesome
  7. "Whatever It Takes
  8. "Cold Virginia Rain"
  9. "Belly Up"
  10. "What She Left Me For"
  11. "Dancing Fool"
  12. "Funky Two Step
To Whom It May Concern
Parenteau has been nominated for a multitude of awards all across Canada picking up a number of them along the way. In 2008, Parenteau was nominated for his country's highest honour by being nominated for a Juno Award.
YearNominated workAwardCategoryResultRef
2001Donny ParenteauSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsInternational Humanitarian
2003FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2004HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2004FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2005"The Great Unknown"Canadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Producer/Engineer
2005HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2005FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2006HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2006FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2007What it TakesCanadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Album of the Year-
2007What it TakesCanadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Country Album-
2007"What It Takes"Canadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Producer/Engineer
2007"Father Time"Canadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Song Single
2007"Father Time"Canadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Songwriter-
2007"Postmarked Heaven"Canadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Songwriter-
2007HimselfCanadian Country Music AwardsChevy Truck Rising Star
2007"What It Takes"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsAlbum of the Year
2007HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsFans' Choice Entertainer of the Year-
2007HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsMale Vocalist of the Year-
2007HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2007HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsRecord Producer of the Year
2007FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2007SpecialtySaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2007Donny Parenteau BandSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsBack Up Band
2007"Country Calling Me"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSingle of the Year-
2007"Country Calling Me"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSong of the Year-
2007What it TakesWestern Canadian Music AwardsOutstanding Aboriginal Recording
2007What it TakesWestern Canadian Music AwardsOutstanding Country Recording
2008What it TakesJuno AwardsAboriginal Recording of the Year
2008FiddleCanadian Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2008HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2008HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsFans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
2008HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsMale Vocalist of the Year
2008HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsRecord Producer of the Year-
2008FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2008Donny Parenteau BandSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsBack Up Band
2008"Postmarked Heaven"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSingle of the Year
2008"Postmarked Heaven"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSong of the Year
2008"Father Time"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSingle of the Year-
2008"Father Time"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSong of the Year-
2008What It TakesAboriginal People's Choice Music AwardsBest Country CD-
2008What It TakesAboriginal People's Choice Music AwardsBest Album Cover Design-
2009FiddleCanadian Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2009HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2010HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2011HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2011HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsFans' Choice Entertainer of the Year-
2011HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsMale Vocalist of the Year-
2011HimselfSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsManager of the Year-
2011FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band-
2011SpecialtySaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2011"My Girl"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSingle of the Year-
2011"My Girl"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSong of the Year-
2011"My Girl"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsVideo of the Year-
2011HimselfAboriginal People's Choice AwardsAboriginal Male Entertainer of the Year
2011To Whom It May ConcernAboriginal People's Choice AwardsBest Country CD
2011To Whom It May ConcernCanadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Album of the Year-
2011To Whom It May ConcernCanadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Country Album
2011HimselfCanadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Songwriter
2011HimselfCanadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Male Artist
2011HimselfCanadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Producer/Engineer
2011"To Whom It May Concern"Canadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Song Single-
2011"To Whom It May Concern"Canadian Aboriginal Music AwardsBest Music Video
2012To Whom It May ConcernJuno AwardsAboriginal Recording of the Year
2012FiddleCanadian Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2013Donny ParenteauSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAboriginal Artist of the Year
2013Donny ParenteauSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsFans' Choice Entertainer of the Year-
2013Donny ParenteauSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsRecord Producer of the Year-
2013Donny ParenteauSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsCountry Music Person of the Year-
2013Bring It OnSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAlbum of the Year
2013"Sunshower"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSong of the Year-
2013"Can't Afford to Love You"Saskatchewan Country Music AwardsSingle of the Year-
2013FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2013SpecialtySaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2013Bring It OnJuno AwardsAboriginal Recording of the Year
2014FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2017FiddleSaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band
2017SpecialtySaskatchewan Country Music AwardsAll-Star Band