Donnie Parenteau is content.
The Prince Albert singer, who received 10 Saskatchewan Country Music Association nominations on Friday morning for his last album Bring It On, was in a reflective mood Friday afternoon when asked about the latest honours.
“I’m in a very good place in my life,” he said as he was being driven to a school to talk to children. “I feel really good what I’m doing and I feel like I’m supposed to be doing what I’m doing. Sometimes in life you’re on that path where you’re going ‘Ahh, this doesn’t feel right, I shouldn’t be doing this.
“Where I’m on right now, I’m on the good path.”
That path landed him the 10 nominations on Friday, boosting his career award nominations to more than 100.
He was nominated for male vocalist and best entertainer, song, single, producer, country music person, album and aboriginal artist. He was also nominated for the all-star band for fiddle and specialty.
The awards will be handed out in Saskatoon during the annual Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards and Country Music Festival from April 26-28.
After 12 years touring with American country music superstar Neal McCoy, Parenteau returned home and has released three CDs since 2003.
The Prince Albert country singer said while nominations never get old, this was special.
“That’s a milestone,” he said of reaching 100. “When I’m thinking about my career and thinking about everything that I’ve done in my life … I’m blessed playing music, first off. To get a chance to tour with Neal McCoy, one of the best entertainers on the planet as far as I’m concerned to starting off from scratch all going to where I am today, to receiving these nominations this morning to that milestone.
“I’m very humbled and very honoured and I appreciate everybody voting for me and still believing in me and in what I do.”
It’s been a terrific time for Parenteau lately.
He received his third Juno nomination last month, for aboriginal album of the year. He also opened a new music school on Marquis Road last month.
Then the nominations were announced.
“You have to take every single thing that comes your way as ‘How do I deal with this,’” he says. “That’s important. What I’m going to be doing with this is I take this back when I do my school talks. When I talk to the students I let them know to never give up. If you get that first dream, go after the second one.”
Parenteau clearly has bigger dreams.
After releasing an album last year, he is currently working on new material. And Parenteau plans on hiring a publicist to help him capitalize on the buzz surrounding his Juno nod and the latest SCMA nominations.
Yet the singer says he feels like he’s at a crossroads.
“You have to ask yourself ‘Why is this happening,’” he says. “What am I doing? What am I supposed to do? But sometimes you also just have to sit back and just say ‘Let go of the wheel.’ And wherever it’s going to take you it’s going to take you. Obviously there’s a reason why I’m supposed to keep doing what I’m doing, I just don’t know what it is yet.
“But something’s coming.”
perry.bergson@paherald.sk.ca
