Daniel Greaves (musician)
Daniel Greaves | |
---|---|
Origin | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Genres | Rock |
Occupation(s) | Vocalist, songwriter, producer |
Instruments | Vocals, piano |
Years active | 1988–present |
Associated acts | The Watchmen, Doctor |
Daniel Greaves (born 1970) is a Canadian rock vocalist and songwriter.
The Watchmen
In 1988, Greaves became the lead singer of The Watchmen, which he co-formed with Joey Serlin, Sammy Kohn and Pete Loewen.[1] The Watchmen became one of Canada's most successful alternative rock bands. They enjoyed some of their greatest success in the 1990s. Between 1992 and 2001, they released six records internationally and built a substantial fan base in Canada and Australia. Each of their album releases achieved either gold or platinum status in Canada.
The Watchmen Discography
- 1992 – McLaren Furnace Room
- 1994 – In the Trees
- 1996 – Brand New Day
- 1998 – Silent Radar
- 2001 – Slomotion (double CD)
In 2003, the band members decided to separate and explore different opportunities individually, but still continue to perform with each other from time to time. Since the 2003 split, Greaves has worked with former Watchmen bandmate Ken Tizzard in the duo Audio Playground High + Wide. Tizzard and Greaves performed in a series of live visual music presentations at venues such as Ted’s Wrecking Yard and the Berkley Church.
Doctor
Greaves briefly formed Doctor with Rob Higgins. That band's debut album, High Is As High Gets, was released in 2004.
Film and TV
Greaves has created musical scores for the big screen as well as the small:
Films – Music Supervisor and Composer/Audio Engineer/Mixer in:
- The 2000 film, Kanadiana, that which was featured in the Montreal Film Festival
- The 2002 feature film, The Risen (starring Alberta Watson and Eugene Lipinski), where he worked with award winning director Jeff Beesley of Corner Gas.
- The 2003 film, he scored Trevor Cunningham's feature film The Pedestrian.
- The 2010 film, Happiness is Hate Therapy, directed by Brett Blackwell (originally aired on Bravo!)
Recently, The Watchmen favorites, The South and Sleep, were included on the soundtrack of the 2010 TIFF selected film The Whistleblower starring Rachel Weisz.
Television – Music Supervisor and Composer/Audio Engineer/Mixer in:
- In 2002, he provided original music for Everybody’s Doing It (MTV).
- His music can also be heard on regularly on CSI (CTV), Divine Design with Candice Olson (HGTV), and Take it Outside (HGTV).
Other work and appearances
Greaves has also been asked to guest star on a variety of artists work. In 2005, Greaves contributed vocals to the track "This Longing" on the Neverending White Lights debut CD Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies, which also featured other high-profile guest stars such as Dallas Green from Alexisonfire, Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace and Scott Anderson of Finger Eleven.
His philanthropic work includes written music for African AIDS benefits – in 2006, he contributed to Winnipeg producer Darcy Ataman's new tune "A Song for Africa" which was a benefit project to raise funds for African AIDS relief.
He also has contributed to community service announcements – in 2006, he composed the soundtrack to a new drinking and driving commercial commissioned by Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). The commercial premiered in December 2006 during the holiday season.
Through his career as a musician, Greaves has been represented and booked by Ralph James of The Agency Group, who also books well-known Canadian rock band, Nickelback.
Personal life
Outside of the music industry, Greaves is a partner in Toronto's oldest and continuously open landmark diner, The Lakeview Restaurant. He and the Lakeview team continue to grow their restaurant empire – in late 2010 they are opening a coffee shop called The Abbot in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood on Spencer Ave. He and his wife Lisa also own The Motel Bar on 1235 Queen St W located in parkdale.
His brother, David Greaves, who has dual Canadian-Israeli citizenship, is a member of the Israeli Bobsled Team. Their goal was to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics but they did not qualify.
Greaves is currently living in Toronto and working on a solo album, for release in 2013, and performing when he gets a chance.
Discography
With 'The Watchmen'
McLaren Furnace Room (1992)
In The Trees (1994)
Brand New Day (1996)
Silent Radar (1998)
Live Radar (1998)
Slomotion (2001)
Last Road Trip Download Series (2004)
As 'Doctor'
High Is As High Gets (2004)
Solo
TBA (2011)
References
- ↑ Bush, John. "The Watchmen". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
External links
- Winnipeg producer pens African AIDS benefit single
- The miracle of the Neverending White Lights
- Interview with Danny Greaves
- SGI launches new drinking and driving ad campaign
- Rock concert raises cash for Israeli bobsled team
- Maple Music – The Watchmen Discography