Donny Parenteau

 ( Living People ) 

Donny Parenteau (born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) 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.

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

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Career

After picking up the violin at a young age, by 19 he was playing professionally. In 1991, Parenteau was playing in Edmonton 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 Jam session 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.

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Charity work

Parenteau has done a number of humanitarian and charity work. In 2001 SCMA International Humanitarian Award for his efforts. He also appears 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.

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Discography

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Studio albums

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Collaborations

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Singles

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Music videos

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Awards and nominations

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.

2001	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	Himself	International Humanitarian
2003		Fiddle	All-Star Band
2004		Himself	Aboriginal Artist of the Year
		Fiddle	All-Star Band
2005	Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards	"The Great Unknown"	Best Producer/Engineer
	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	Himself	Aboriginal Artist of the Year
		Fiddle	All-Star Band
2006	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	Himself	Aboriginal Artist of the Year
		Fiddle	All-Star Band
2007	Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards	What it Takes	Best Album of the Year
			Best Country Album
		"What It Takes"	Best Producer/Engineer
		"Father Time"	Best Song Single
			Best Songwriter
		"Postmarked Heaven"
	Canadian Country Music Awards	Himself	Chevy Truck Rising Star
	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	What It Takes	Album of the Year
		Himself	Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
			Male Vocalist of the Year
			Aboriginal Artist of the Year
			Record Producer of the Year
		Fiddle	All-Star Band
		Specialty
		Donny Parenteau Band	Back Up Band
		"Country Calling Me"	Single of the Year
			Song of the Year
	Western Canadian Music Awards	What it Takes	Outstanding Aboriginal Recording
			Outstanding Country Recording
2008	Juno Awards		Aboriginal Recording of the Year
	Canadian Country Music Awards	Fiddle	All-Star Band
	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	Himself	Aboriginal Artist of the Year
			Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
			Male Vocalist of the Year
			Record Producer of the Year
		Fiddle	All-Star Band
		Donny Parenteau Band	Back Up Band
		"Postmarked Heaven"	Single of the Year
			Song of the Year
		"Father Time"	Single of the Year
			Song of the Year
	Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards	What It Takes	Best Country CD
			Best Album Cover Design
2009	Canadian Country Music Awards	Fiddle	All-Star Band
	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	Himself	Aboriginal Artist of the Year
2010
2011
			Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
			Male Vocalist of the Year
			Manager of the Year
		Fiddle	All-Star Band
		Specialty
		"My Girl"	Single of the Year
			Song of the Year
			Video of the Year
	Aboriginal People's Choice Awards	Himself	Aboriginal Male Entertainer of the Year
		To Whom It May Concern	Best Country CD
	Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards		Best Album of the Year
			Best Country Album
		Himself	Best Songwriter
			Best Male Artist
			Best Producer/Engineer
		"To Whom It May Concern"	Best Song Single
			Best Music Video
2012	Juno Awards	To Whom It May Concern	Aboriginal Recording of the Year
	Canadian Country Music Awards	Fiddle	All-Star Band
2013	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	Himself	Aboriginal Artist of the Year
			Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
			Record Producer of the Year
			Country Music Person of the Year
		Bring It On	Album of the Year
		"Sunshower"	Song of the Year
		"Can't Afford to Love You"	Single of the Year
		Fiddle	All-Star Band
		Specialty
	Juno Awards	Bring It On	Aboriginal Recording of the Year
2014	Saskatchewan Country Music Awards	Fiddle	All-Star Band
2017		Fiddle
		Specialty
2020		Himself	Legends and Legacy Award
2022			Record Producer of the Year

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External links

• Official website

Categories: Living People, Canadian Country Guitarists, Canadian Male Guitarists, Métis Musicians, People From Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, 306 Records Artists, Canadian Country Fiddlers, Canadian Male Violinists And Fiddlers, Canadian Country Singer-songwriters, Fransaskois People, Canadian Mandolinists, Singers From Saskatchewan, 20th-century Canadian Male Singers, 20th-century Canadian Violinists And Fiddlers, 21st-century Canadian Violinists And Fiddlers, 20th-century Canadian Guitarists, 21st-century Canadian Guitarists, Canadian Male Singer-songwriters, 20th-century Canadian Multi-instrumentalists, 21st-century Canadian Multi-instrumentalists, 21st-century Canadian Male Singers, Year Of Birth Missing, 20th-century Canadian Singer-songwriters, 21st-century Canadian Singer-songwriters

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