Alex Radeff (guitar, vocals)
Craig Belanger (keyboards)
James Clark (drums, vocals)
Alex Radeff is a Toronto based singer/songwriter/guitarist and Donkey is the musical vehicle he uses to express those ideas. The name Donkey was inspired by British band Badfinger and their 1974 album "Ass".
Born of European parentage, Radeff has been involved in music and writing from an early age. Donkey, as a musical entity, first surfaced in 1993 when their independent cassette, 'Legwork', was released.
With its originality and imaginative songwriting approach, the tape garnered critical acclaim and allowed the band to develop as a live act with a stream of showcase gigs across Southern Ontario which helped the band develop a loyal following.
Short on cash, but not musical ideas, Radeff set up an 8 track reel-to-reel recorder in the band's rehearsal space and began the task of recording the follow-up to 'Legwork'. The result was the 1995 album cassette 'Heavy Light Ears' which gained critical acclaim from industry peers such as The College Music Journal and famed Toronto concert promoter Gary Topp.
The tape managed to garner heavy rotation on radio in Eastern Europe, Bulgaria and Romania. Due to an ongoing legal battle with a US act also calling itself Donkey, Radeff and company were unable to tour to support the release. However, the prolonged fight -- which Radeff won -- took its toll and the band broke up.
Radeff wasted little time in reforming Donkey with a new line-up which consisted of Craig Belanger (keyboards) and Clark Institute member Jim Clarke (drums, vocals). From 1995 to 1997 the trio -- who preferred to perform seated -- managed to make up for lost touring time by descending on Toronto's El Mocambo, Gasworks, Horsehoe Tavern and the Canadian National Exhibition bandshell among other venues.
The band retired to Radeff's studio once more to lay down tracks for a third recording and also remixed tracks from the first two independent cassettes. The result was released on a CD called 'Kickback' in 1998. The band is currently touring to support the release.
Singles
Albums
1993 Legwork [cassette] (independent)
1995 Heavy Light Ears [cassette] (independent)
1998 Kickback [CD] (independent)
Video
Compilation Tracks
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