Introducing Don Grierson
Published: Thu, 07/02/09
Hello ,
I recently became acquainted with a music industry professional that hands down has the most experience and has worked with more heavy hitters in the music business than anyone I know. His name is Don Grierson and he has a tremendous wealth of experience that spans several decades that gives Don a truly unique perspective about the music industry. His experience and background have proven to be a priceless resource for the many clients he has helped in the music business over the years. He has worked with a broad range of artists, including The Beatles, Tina Turner, Cheap Trick, Celine Dion and many, many more. He has also worked in a variety of different positions, including being the former Vice President of A&R at Capitol Records and Snr. Vice President, A&R, Epic/Sony Records. He is currently an instructor at the renowned Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.
I recently became acquainted with a music industry professional that hands down has the most experience and has worked with more heavy hitters in the music business than anyone I know. His name is Don Grierson and he has a tremendous wealth of experience that spans several decades that gives Don a truly unique perspective about the music industry. His experience and background have proven to be a priceless resource for the many clients he has helped in the music business over the years. He has worked with a broad range of artists, including The Beatles, Tina Turner, Cheap Trick, Celine Dion and many, many more. He has also worked in a variety of different positions, including being the former Vice President of A&R at Capitol Records and Snr. Vice President, A&R, Epic/Sony Records. He is currently an instructor at the renowned Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.
In additon to teaching at MI, Don also works as a consultant for professional musicians and helps them get to the next level in their careers, by providing the knowledge and expertise he´s acquired throughout his career in the music industry. He assists artists in a variety of ways and brings a level of experience and expertise that is priceless. Don is selective about who he works with and his services aren´t for everybody. But if you have a project you´re working on; a record release, a tour, a songwriting project, etc, Don might just be the perfect person to bring
aboard. Don has also agreed to extend a special discount just for readers of my newsletter.
Below is Don´s bio to give you an idea of his amazing background in the music industry. If you're intersted in working with Don and having him help you move your career forward visit his website at http://www.dongrierson.com/site02/services.html to learn more about Don and his services. If you contact Don, be sure to mention that you heard about Don through my newsletter in order to receive the special discount for Don's services.
aboard. Don has also agreed to extend a special discount just for readers of my newsletter.
Below is Don´s bio to give you an idea of his amazing background in the music industry. If you're intersted in working with Don and having him help you move your career forward visit his website at http://www.dongrierson.com/site02/services.html to learn more about Don and his services. If you contact Don, be sure to mention that you heard about Don through my newsletter in order to receive the special discount for Don's services.
Here´s Don´s Bio:
A citizen of the United Kingdom, Don immigrated to the United States from Australia, and jump-started his career by doing record promotion for several labels, including Chess and Capitol Records. During that time, he was involved in the promotion of The Beatles, and was singularly recognized with the only Golden Apple Award ever presented by them for "Outstanding promotion in launching Apple Records in the United States.
At Capitol, Don was also manager, international A&R/promotion where he signed Little River Band and director,merchandising and advertising. When Capitol created a second label, EMI America Records in 1978, he became its vice president, A&R. His successes at EMI America included Michael Johnson, Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton, Kate Bush, J. Geils Band and Kenny Rogers.
In 1982, Grierson moved back to Capitol as vice president, A&R, where he signed and helped guide a number of hit-making acts, including Heart, Joe Cocker, Freddy Jackson, Melba Moore, Steve Vai, Megadeth, WASP and George Clinton. He was personally involved with the recording careers of Tina Turner, Bob Seger, Anne Murray, The Motels, Duran Duran, Power Station, Thomas Dolby, Ashford & Simpson, Billy Squier, and assisted in the emergence of Crowded House, Poison, The Smithereens and Great White.
In 1987, Don resigned from Capitol to join CBS/Sony as senior vice president, A&R, Epic Records, where he personally signed and worked with such acts as Celine Dion (via Sony Canada), Bad English (finding their #1 hit "When I See You Smile"), Iron Maiden, Basia, Tony Terry, Kaoma, and The Cover Girls, as well as bringing his expertise to bear on the careers of Cheap Trick (finding their #1 single "The Flame"), Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, REO Speedwagon, The Jacksons and Europe. Under his direction, the Epic A&R staff also signed successful acts Living Colour, Indigo Girls, Allman Brothers Band, Alice Cooper, Social Distortion, Firehouse, Suicidal Tendencies, Front 2423, Ottmar Liebert and Joe Satriani. Don also directed music supervision for the feature film soundtracks for Hook (Universal Pictures, Steven Spielberg, dir.), Bugsy (TriStar Pictures, Barry Levinson, dir.), Tap (TriStar Pictures, Nick Castle, dir.), Queens Logic (New Visions Pictures, Steve Rash, dir.) and Iron Eagle (TriStar Pictures, Sidney J. Furie, dir.).
In 1993 Don created Drive Entertainment, a company with emphasis on classic artist and niche market catalog exploitation, where he compiled and packaged over 140 albums. Five years later, Don chose to reenter the broader-based music market, and currently operates his own independent consultant company, doing executive producer A&R projects that have included Heart, Sheena Easton, Roch Voisine, Amy Sky, and international artists Ingjerd (Norway), Lauren Taylor (Canada), Antoinette Taus (The Philippines), Alina Smith (Russia/USA), Yenn (Vietnam/USA) and currently, the new album by American Idol Finalist, Jon Peter Lewis. He works with labels, artists and publishers, both in the United States and internationally, as well as researching and creating compilation music and DVD packages.
Don continues to be a music supervisor for independent films, recently completing Constantin Films production, "She Gets What She Wants" (Melanie Mayron, dir.), and preparing for Angel Academy from August Entertainment. He is also an instructor at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, an advisory board member for AuditionForHollywood.com (Be Seen...Be Heard...Be Discovered!) and a consultant to CRCJIANIAN, a joint venture partnership between Los Angeles based consultancy firm, AIM Group LLC and the China Record Corporation (CRC), the Chinese government's oldest and largest record company.
Don is also in the process of writing his first book about the music industry!
Affiliations:
* NARAS - Long Term Voting Member
* Audition for Hollywood.com - Advisory Board
* Musicians Institute - Instructor
* NARAS - Long Term Voting Member
* Audition for Hollywood.com - Advisory Board
* Musicians Institute - Instructor
For more info on Don visit http://www.dongrierson.com/site02/services.html today.
Happy Songwriting!
Aaron Davison