Donny's influences: Vocal Groups (Beach Boys, Four Seasons, Fifth Dimension) to Acoustic Pop (America, Crosby Stills and Nash, Eagles, Poco) to Progressive Pop/Jazz (Steely Dan, Toto) to Singer-Songwriters (Carole King, Neil Sedaka, James Taylor, Laura Nyro, Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach) to Country (Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Emerson Drive, Lonestar), i.e., all over the place :-)
Susan's influences: All of the above plus Martina McBride, Beatles, Linda Ronstadt, Eagles, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, etc., etc., etc.
Donny Grace is a 5-time winner of Mountain Valley Arts (MOVA) Festival. At the 2007 MOVA Festival songwriter competition, Donny and Susan won 4 awards to include Best of Show. Donny was a 2-time Finalist and Judge's Pick award winner in the 2005 MOVA Festival, a 2-time Finalist in the 2004 competition, double winner in the 2002 festival placing 2nd in the Inspirational/Gospel/ Spiritual category and 2nd place in Soft Rock/Adult Pop in the 2003 festival, and placing 3rd in the Country category in the 2002 MOVA competition. Susan won the Lyrics Only category at the 2004, 2005, and 2007 MOVA competition.
In addition to songwriting, Susan worked with high school theatre productions for a number of years and has had an interest in music all her life.
Having been involved in music all his life, Donny fell in love with a song as soon as he learned to play the radio. From the Everly Brothers on that very first old acoustic guitar to Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, and the sophisticated numbers of Henry Mancini on the piano, Donny was soon playing everything that came on the radio. He then began to write songs and his love for chords and harmonies soon led to the group Aesop's Fables, which focused on the Beach Boys and other vocal groups of the era along with some originals. Then as bass player, vocalist, composer, and arranger for the regional success, The Carousel, he toured the Southeast performing the college circuit and other venues, including opening for such acts as the O'Kaysions ("I'm a Girl Watcher"), Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, and Travis Wammack. Two songs of his songs were cut by the Carousel, "Girl Maybe You (No Time for Diamond Rings)" and "Gonna Hide My Face", co-written with Mike Lantrip. Donny then performed and collaborated in writing and studio work with Marc Phillips and Tommy Calton of the nationally recognized groups Hotel and Split the Dark. Donny was later in the Christian rock group Noah's Ark. He has performed his own material at writers nights throughout the area including the Bluebird Café in Nashville, the Moonlight Music Café in Birmingham, the Muscle Shoals Songwriter Showcase, and Jim Parker's Acoustic Songwriter Showcase in North Alabama where he has performed in the round with such writers as Richard Leigh, Lenny LeBlanc, Marc Phillips, and Jim Parker, co-writer of John Anderson's hit "Chicken Truck".
Fall 2001, the song "God Remembers", co-written with George Wells, was cut on the CD "Believe, Stand Strong" by artist Connie Angel of Orange Park, FL.
Donny is also coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) workshop for North Alabama. For more info, go to NorthAlabamaSongwriters.com or NashvilleSongwriters.com
Myspace Backgrounds
Great to get linked up again. Enjoying the myspace option. Should be posting some new pieces in a couple of days. I try to add a couple of new pieces every week, just to keep it interesting. Have a great weekend! --Keith
Hope to see you all again soon! New Craig Bickhardt CD! Pre-Order NOW! .. .. The CD features guest appearances by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Terri Hendrix, Janis Ian, Tim O'Brien, Maura O'Connell, Darrell Scott, Jack Sundrud, Kenny Vaughn, Rusty Young and others.
