BIOGRAPHY:

Don Grashey is best known for managing the careers of Myrna Lorrie and Carroll Baker. Born Dominic Michael Guarasci, Grashey first dabbled in the art of songwriting with Jim Amadeo, struggling for more than a decade to get a foothold in the Canadian music scene, finally scoring a breakthrough in 1954 with the song My Rambling Heartbeing record by Jim Reeves.

In 1955, Grashey decided to broaden his involvement in the music industry, after discovering then 14 year old Myrna Lorrie, who would record a duet of Grashey's Are You Mine? With Buddy DeVal which soared to the top of the charts. The song would go on to become one of the most memorable country duets of all time.

In 1960, Grashey and his partner Chuck Williams discover a then unknown Loretta Lynn, signing her to their Zero Records label and releasing her first single I'm A Honky Tonk Girl. Grashey's contributions to Lynn's career have often been overlooked by historians and biographers, a fact which always troubled him.

In 1970, Grashey signed Carroll Baker to a record deal on his fledgling Gaiety Record label, a teaming which would go on to become one of the most successful partnerships in Canadian country music history, scoring dozens of hit singles. Grashey is also credited with producing hits for such Canadian stars as Orella Myers, Jerry Palmer, John Winters, Heather Haig, Carol Martyn, Cindi Cain and George Carone among others.

In 1980 Don Grashey was presented with the RPM Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame Award.