Donna Grantis
{{short description|Canadian guitarist}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Donna Grantis
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Donna Grantis
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| origin =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = Musician, guitarist
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts = Prince (musician), 3rdeyegirl, Ida Nielsen, Hannah Welton, New Power Generation
| website = {{URL|www.donnagrantis.com|donnagrantis.com}}
| module = PRS CE22 (named Elektra)
| module2 =
| module3 =
}}
Donna Grantis is a Canadian guitarist, best known for performing and recording with Prince & 3rdeyegirl.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/toronto-guitarist-jams-with-prince-1.1371295|title=Toronto guitarist jams with Prince|date=April 25, 2013|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}} On September 30, 2014, Prince and 3rdeyegirl released their debut album, Plectrumelectrum, which reached #1 on the Billboard Rock chart.{{Cite magazine|url = http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/chart-alert/6281324/prince-crowns-dual-charts-scores-first-top-rock-albums-no-1|title = Prince Crowns Dual Charts, Scores First Top Rock Albums No. 1|date = October 9, 2014|magazine = Billboard|last = Mendizabal|first = Amaya}} The album's title track, "Plectrumelectrum", was originally written by Grantis and later arranged by Prince.{{Cite web|url = http://www.theaureview.com/interviews/donna-grantis-of-3rdeyegirl-minneapolis-chats-about-working-with-prince|title = THE AU INTERVIEW: DONNA GRANTIS OF 3RDEYEGIRL (MINNEAPOLIS) CHATS ABOUT WORKING WITH PRINCE|date = October 8, 2014|website = The Aure Review|last = Goodridge|first = John}} Since 2013, Grantis has been a member of Prince's funk supergroup, The New Power Generation. On November 16, 2018, Grantis released two new songs, “Trashformer” and “Violetta,” featuring Hall of Fame Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, as a limited edition 7” via his vinyl label HockeyTalkter Records.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.thecurrent.org/2018/11/donna-grantis-releases-two-tracks-featuring-mike-mccready-of-pearl-jam/|title=Donna Grantis releases two tracks featuring Mike McCready of Pearl Jam|last=Gabler|first=Jay|date=November 20, 2018|website=Local Current Blog}} The tracks appear on Grantis’ debut album, Diamonds & Dynamite, released March 22, 2019, via eOne Music.{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/ex-prince_guitarist_donna_grantis_channels_prince_toronto_and_improvisation_on_new_album_diamonds_and_dynamite|title=Ex-Prince Guitarist Donna Grantis Channels Prince, Toronto and Improvisation on New Album 'Diamonds & Dynamite'|last=Patrick|first=Ryan|date=March 22, 2019|website=Exclaim!}} The album and lead track reached #1 on iTunes Canada for top jazz album and top jazz song.
Biography
= Early life =
Grantis grew up outside of Toronto, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She began playing acoustic guitar at the age of thirteen. Inspired by her older brother's classic rock record collection, she switched to electric guitar at fourteen.{{cite web|last1=Wood Rudulph|first1=Heather|title=Get That Life: How I Joined Prince's Band 3RDEYEGIRL|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/interviews/a36198/get-that-life-donna-grantis-prince-3rdeyegirl/|website=Cosmopolitan|access-date=February 9, 2015}} She was awarded a music scholarship to McGill University where she received a bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance.{{cite web|last1=Molenda|first1=Michael|title= Donna Grantis Rocks Prince, 3rdEyeGirl, and the New Power Generation|url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/artists/1013/donna-grantis-rocks-prince-3rdeyegirl-and-the-new-power-generation/31053|website=Guitar Player|access-date=June 24, 2014}} During her time there, she worked as a freelance musician, performing often throughout Montreal in various blues, jazz, funk and fusion bands.
=2002–2012=
Upon relocating to Toronto, Grantis worked as a session musician and bandleader, writing, performing and recording in the city's diverse music scene. She worked with artists such as blues vocalist Shakura S'Aida,{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Christopher|title=Shakura Thrives on Taking Chances|url=http://www.livewithculture.ca/music/shakura-thrives-on-taking-chances/|website=Live With Culture|access-date=November 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122082913/http://www.livewithculture.ca/music/shakura-thrives-on-taking-chances/|archive-date=November 22, 2010|url-status=dead}} rocker SATE (musician) (formerly known as Saidah Baba Talibah), an all-female reboot of soul-funk band Sue de Nym led by singer-songwriter Suzanne Nuttall (in 2009), hip hop artist Kardinal Offishall,{{Cite news
| url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/working-with-prince-is-as-purple-as-youd-expect-guitarist-says/article20918932/
| title = Working with Prince is as purple as you'd expect, guitarist says
| last = Wheeler
| first = Brad
| date = October 3, 2014
| work = The Globe and Mail
}} indie artist Hill Kourkoutis (Hill & The Sky Heroes),{{Cite web
| url = http://www.wearerocksteady.com/portfolio/hill-the-sky-heroes/
| title = Hill & The Sky Heroes
| date = 2015
| website = Rock Steady Music
}} jazz vocalist Kellylee Evans, R&B songwriter Haydain Neale (Jacksoul) and multi-platinum pop singer Amanda Marshall.{{cite web|last1=Wood Rudulph|first1=Heather|title=Get That Life: How I Joined Prince's Band 3RDEYEGIRL|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/interviews/a36198/get-that-life-donna-grantis-prince-3rdeyegirl/|website=Cosmopolitan|access-date=February 9, 2015}} As a band leader and composer, Grantis fronted an instrumental jazz-fusion trio called the Donna Grantis Electric Band. Her debut solo album, Suites, was independently released June 26, 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://stickymagazine.com/concerts/2-concerts/654-donna-grantis|title=The Prowess of Donna Grantis|last=Fraser|first=Lee|date=January 14, 2012|website=Sticky Magazine}} The Donna Grantis Electric Band marked the release of the album with a performance at Toronto jazz club, the Rex Hotel, before touring Europe in support of the record through the fall of 2012. As a musical director, Grantis worked on special events with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Women's Blues Revue{{cite web|title=25th Women's Blues Revue|url=http://torontobluessociety.com/2011/11/25th-womens-blues-revue/|website=Toronto Blues Society|access-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817095129/http://torontobluessociety.com/2011/11/25th-womens-blues-revue/|archive-date=August 17, 2016|url-status=dead}} among others.
=Prince=
In November 2012, Grantis received an invitation to Prince's Minnesota recording complex, Paisley Park.{{Cite web
| url = http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/donna-grantis-on-prince-paisley-park-and-plectrumelectrum-613057
| title = Donna Grantis on Prince, Paisley Park and PlectrumElectrum
| last = Parker
| first = Matt
| date = January 7, 2015
| website = Musicradar
}} Alongside Prince, drummer Hannah Welton, and bassist Ida Nielsen, Grantis jammed a short list of songs as an audition for what would evolve into the funk-rock recording and performing trio, 3rdeyegirl. The group toured throughout the UK, Europe and North America. On September 30, 2014, Prince & 3rdeyegirl released their only album, Plectrumelectrum. Upon release, the album reached #1 on the Billboard Rock Chart in the USA.{{Cite magazine
| url = http://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/2014/rock-albums
| title = Billboard
| last = Magazine
| first = Billboard
| date = October 18, 2014
| magazine = Billboard
}} The title track, "Plectrumelectrum", was originally written by Grantis and later arranged by Prince. From 2013 until the death of Prince in 2016, Grantis was a member of his funk supergroup, the New Power Generation.
Equipment
Grantis' primary instrument is a custom private stock PRS guitar. It is based on a Mira semi-hollow, with a Korina body, gold mirror pick guard and headstock, maple neck and whammy bar.{{cite web|last1=Guitar World Staff|title=Prince Guitarist Donna Grantis Demos Her PRS Private Stock Custom Guitar|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/gear-electrics-viral-videos/prince-guitarist-donna-grantis-demos-her-prs-private-stock-custom-guitar|website=Guitar World|access-date=February 8, 2016}} Her purple PRS CE 22, which she has used extensively in performances and recording sessions, is named "Elektra". Grantis has several specialized effects pedal boards, including one referred to as "the starship".{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/donna-grantis-on-prince-paisley-park-and-plectrumelectrum-613057|title=Donna Grantis on Prince, Paisley Park and PlectrumElectrum|last=Parker|first=Matt|date=January 7, 2015|website=musicradar}} The board consists of twenty pedals across three interconnected boards. It was built by Craig Pattison specifically for her role in 3rdeyegirl to cover a wide array of tones. Grantis uses Delrin 0.73mm picks.{{cite web|last1=Shadrick|first1=Jason|title=Donna Grantis: Days (and Nights) of Wild|url=http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/21622-donna-grantis-days-and-nights-of-wild?page=2|website=Premiere Guitar|access-date=November 11, 2014}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.donnagrantis.com Official Site]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Grantis, Donna}}
Category:McGill University School of Music alumni
Category:Canadian women guitarists
Category:Canadian lead guitarists
Category:Musicians from Toronto
Category:New Power Generation members