Alex Radeff - Guitar and Vocals
Terry Kavanagh - Drums and Vocals
Joe Spina - Bass
Influences
Harry Nilsson, Badfinger, Pink Floyd, Small Faces, Johnny & The G-Rays, Robyn Hitchcock, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Roy Harper,
Marianne Faithfull, Roxy Music, Humble Pie, Cyndi Lauper, Sex Pistols, Randy Newman, Ray Davies & The Kinks, The Only Ones, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Ian Hunter, Bob Marley, Terje Rypdal, John Abercrombie, Jan Akkerman, Jimi Hendrix, Syd Barrett, Roy Buchannan, Debussy, Sun Ra, Bonzo Dog Band.
Founded by singer/songwriter/guitarist Alex Radeff as a vehicle for his eclectic songs, Donkey is an original rock/pop group based in Toronto. The music ranges from melodic hard rock to soft pop ballads, each song from a unique songwriting perspective.
The project first gathered critical praise with two independent releases in the mid/late 90’s. High profile media figures such as Moses Znaimer, Gary Topp, and Q107’s Al Joynes heard and supported the group’s musical/artistic direction. The College Music Journal reviewed Radeff as “something of a guitar genius”.
Building a loyal following as a trio in Toronto’s “live original music scene” and encouraged by airplay on Canadian, European and American radio, Radeff and Donkey maintained a steady stream of club dates in such Toronto venues as the Horseshoe, El Mocambo, Lee’s Palace, Rivoli and the Opera House among others.
1999 saw Donkey release the debut CD “Kickback”. The rocking anthem “Wartime” was a hit in Romania where it remained in the Top 20 for 14 weeks while the Kosovo war raged on. ”Kickback” also received airplay in Japan.
Through the years 2000/2001 Donkey continued a busy schedule of live shows including two excellent headlining dates at Toronto’s Hard Rock Café with legendary impresario and fan Gino Empry in attendance.
2003 brought the release of “Nodding At The Universe”, an original collection of imaginative songwriting and adventurous musicianship. At that point Alex returned to the live scene, performing at the then infamous Gladstone Hotel with Paul Fitterer on drums and Joe Spina on bass. With rotating drummers including, Terry Kavanagh, Cleave Anderson and Scott Milligen. Donkey performed around 80 one night stands until the end of 2008. “Nodding At The Universe” kept the band gigging for 6 years through a netherworld of Toronto bars and clubs mostly under the radar of the mainstream. “There is an underground. It may be playing music in hard bars with misfits and hard drinkers, but it isn’t plastic.
We get to rock and stretch out and they like it ” says Radeff.
In October 06, Radeff (solo) opened for British rock legend Arthur Brown, when he came to Lula Lounge in Toronto . “Good lyrics” said Mr. Brown
The new Donkey CD, recorded over the past two years is called "The Calling Of The Streets". It is the project's best work without a doubt.
The live line up is Alex Radeff on guitar & vocals, Terry Kavanagh on drums & vocals and Joe Spina on bass. As 2009 unfolds the band continues to grow creatively and remains active live in and around Toronto.
The new CD can be ordered from CD Baby at www.cdbaby.com/cd/donkey2
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