Kanata: Visualizing the Dream

Finding inspiration in music, family and friends was key to overcoming adversity

Multi-talented country music artist Donny Parenteau discovered that the key to overcoming adversity was finding inspiration in music, family and friends.

Iwas born the youngest of four kids in Prince Albert, Sask., in a small two-bedroom home. Even though we didn’t have running water or sewer access, we always had what we needed to survive. Not fully realizing my cultural background at a young age, I found myself being picked on around the neighbourhood and at school. Part of it was because I wore glasses (and had since the age of two), but there was more to it than that. Being Métis, a culture that was not as well known then as it is today, I was often bullied because of my background and called a name I came to dislike immediately: “Halfbreed.” Nothing like a six-year old asking his mom, “What does this word mean?” Thankfully, I also learned how to survive and overcome all the bullying and nasty remarks.

Which brings me to music. I was that one

kid at five years old who would dance alone at weddings in the front of the stage, watching the bands perform. At 12 years old, I was allowed to take a school guitar home to practice and I played it till my fingers bled. Later, I loved to sing and play for anyone who would listen at our brand new, three-bedroom house in the West Flat district of Prince Albert; the new home came about thanks to my mother, Hazel, who saved $300 in one year working at a minimum wage job, which was a sufficient down payment to qualify us for low-income housing.

At 14, I found an old fiddle tucked away under a bed and asked my dad, Wilbur, if we could get it fixed: two weeks later my life changed as I held a fully functional fiddle in my hands for the first time. I was so excited when I got home that day, I learned to play half of a popular fiddle tune, “Over the Waves,” before going to bed that night. After school the next day, I rode my bike over to the home of Mr. Ferguson, a violin repair man, and convinced him to teach me the second half of the song. My mother always taught me that I was blessed with a gift and it should never be taken for granted, because it could be taken away as fast as I received it. I knew at that moment what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, as I would walk around the house saying I was going to live in Nashville and play in front

Clockwise from left: Donny at a recent photo shoot; Donny at 15, featured in the Prince Albert Daily Herald;

Donny plays the Grand Ole Opry for the first time, in 1991.

of thousands of people and perform at the Grand Ole Opry. People used to call me a big dreamer and ask me, “How do you think that’s ever going to happen when you live where you do?” I would always answer back, “Because I can see it.”

I have always lived my life with the thought that if I visualized something, it would come true, and, sure enough, one by one the bands I played with all led to my dream of playing the Grand Ole Opry. It started for real when I was 15 years old, playing with my uncle George Sinclair’s weekend band, which, in turn, led to touring Canada and England with Grant & Sean Carson—and spending my 20th birthday in London! After leaving that group, and the province of Ontario where I was living at the time, I moved back to Prince Albert and

was part of a house band with Brian Sklar & Number One West TV Show. In very early 1991, I joined the Joyce Smith Band, which led me to Edmonton on one truly special day, where at 24, I met and auditioned for famed country singer Neal Mccoy. I was almost hired on the spot by Neal, but he said he just couldn’t afford a new member at the time. And then the band members went up to Neal offering to take a $25-a-week pay cut if it would help get me into the band. And so my life changed again.

It was later in 1991 that we got to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. I remember calling my mom and saying, “I’m so happy my dream is coming true…but now what am I going to do?” She replied without a pause, “Make up some new ones and go get them!” The sad part kicked in when I remembered that my dad was not with us to hear about this night, as he had passed away in September 1990. I looked out in the crowd while playing that night, trying to hide my tears of excitement, and I saw this one empty chair at the top row and I knew Dad was there to watch me.

Over the next 12 years of my life, I toured the world with Neal Mccoy, performing on many TV shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. We were able to perform all across the U.S.A. in front of thousands of people; one of biggest venues of all was the Texas Motor Speedway with more than 250,000 people watching. As if that wasn’t cool enough, I was also able to record on albums that have generated a few No. 1 hits and sold over five million copies.

But the road does indeed take its toll on you. Waking up in yet another hotel room one morning in 2002, I looked up and asked myself, “What am I doing…and who am I doing it for?” With that in my head over the next few days, I knew in my heart it was time to pack it in and leave the group. Not really sure

what I was going to do next, I made the break and jumped on a plane back home to Canada. It wasn’t long after I arrived in my hometown of Prince Albert that I discovered what was coming next for me in life. It happened when I walked into the local music store, where the owner Dave Mccallum was soon helping me plan my solo career. I could really see myself as a solo artist, and by January 2003, I was one, chalking up a number of regional and Canadian Aboriginal music awards in the process.

It was during this time period that I also became a singer/ songwriter. I have been fortunate to pen some wonderful songs with quite a few incredible writers. One of my projects even had special guests Marty Stuart and Charlie Daniels play on my songs—what an incredible honour.

My 2006 solo album, “What It Takes,” became a big success for me and powered my career forward. In 2008, I received my first of three nominations for our country’s highest music honour, the Juno Awards, a highlight among the more than 100 nominations I’ve received from major award shows to date.

What I didn’t see coming, back in December 2008, was the impact our newly born daughter would have on me. The day Julianna was born and I held her in my arms, my whole perspective on life changed. Everything from that moment forward centered upon teaching Julianna all I have learned and loving her unconditionally. My wife Patty taught me how to step back from the hoopla surrounding my career, and concentrate on the most important thing in life, the love of family. My definition of success is now simple: be able to provide for my family through music, enjoy our time together and help others.

Just like music, I have always had a passion for speaking with young people. While touring with Neal Mccoy, I began speaking at schools, which led to the presentation I still take to schools today, called “Bully Free Zone,” in which I discuss everything from inspiration and following your dreams to bullying. I’m grateful for the continuing opportunity to speak to thousands of students across Western Canada, using my story as an example that if you have a dream, it can come true.

In everything I do and every song I write, my family is always with me. I couldn’t do what I do without the love of my wife and daughter. I’ve been blessed with music and all the people I’ve met on my path in life. I appreciate everyone who has helped mold me into the person I am today. It’s my intention to keep paying that kindness forward. Much love – Donny. n