Don Amero - AMP Mentor in Residence for December

Don Amero is the Aboriginal Music Program's (AMP) Mentor in Residence for the month of December. Starting on Thursday, December 1st, he will be available for one-on-one career consultations, phone and email questions, guitar lessons, and songwriting feedback at the Manitoba Music Resource Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Aboriginal songwriters and musicians of all ages and experience, residing in Manitoba, are encouraged to submit in-office consultation requests, call in with questions about the music industry, or email Don for advice and feedback. Terilyn Lavallee will be taking messages for Don over the phone and email questions can be sent to Don at the ampmentor@manitobamusic.com address.

FOR PHONE MESSAGES AND TO SET UP A CONSULTATION:
Terilyn Lavallée
Aboriginal Music Program Administrator
P: 204.975.4219
E: terilyn@manitobamusic.com

TO EMAIL DON AMERO:
ampmentor@manitobamusic.com

ABOUT DON AMERO:
In the past four years, Don has released three albums that generated two national awards and twelve nominations. He has toured the country from coast-to-coast, been invited to play festivals, been asked to perform with symphony accompaniment, and appeared on national television concerts. While a lot has happened for Don in a seemingly short time, in actuality, it was a long road for him to get to where he is today.

Don’s desire to take a serious shot at music was ignited with the unexpected success of his debut album – fittingly called Change Your Life. Released in the fall of 2006, it garnered the #1 spot on the National Aboriginal Countdown and received a total of seven nominations for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (APCMAs). In February of 2009, Don released his second album Deepening, which saw two more singles climb to #1 on the National Aboriginal Countdown. Deepening also earned him Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Male Artist of the Year at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, and two more nominations at the APCMAs.

His third album, The Long Way Home was released in the fall of 2010. With impeccable production and presentation, The Long Way Home is receiving great reviews from media, and generating excitement among fans. The country-flavoured first single Right Where I Wanna Be has been featured on radio stations across Canada, and continues to climb the charts. It is also widely distributed – along with his first two albums – to HMV, 34 CD Plus stores across Canada, and is available on Itunes, Amazon, CD baby and other digital outlets.

Grateful for his success so far, and eager to see what the future brings, Don’s decision to make music for a living is proving to be a good one. The year to come is quickly booking up with tours and featured performances, speaking engagements at youth gatherings, and invitations to industry and media events. It also holds all the potential in the world for his latest album, and ever-expanding music career.

ABOUT THE AMP MENTORS IN RESIDENCE:
The AMP Mentors in Residence will be available to answer questions about the business side of the music industry, equipment and instruments, recording, performing, songwriting, and musicianship for the months of September, October, November, December, and January.

The AMP Mentors:
September, 2011 - Tracy Bone (country)
October, 2011 - Darren Lavallee (fiddle)
November, 2011 - Vince Fontaine (rock)
December, 2011 - Don Amero (folk)
January, 2012 - Billy Joe Green (blues)