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Donkey first surfaced in 1993 when their independent debut "Legwork" was released. "Legwork" displayed the group's originality and musical versatility. The imaginative songwriting received strong critical acclaim from the College Music Journal to Q107 FM and one song even gathered praise from media mogul, Moses Znaimer. Two songs were picked up by Polygram Records and released on two separate compilation albums of original Canadian talent. As a live unit the band honed it's musical skills over a steady stream of showcase concerts in and around Toronto and southern Ontario, developing a loyal following. Donkey and associates also self produced with modest means, four videos which were aired on MuchMusic and Rogers cable. The first video was "Falling Into You", which was to bring a lot of attention to the Donkey camp four years later. For a totally self-funded, self contained, self managed artistic entity, it was definitely a good start.Radeff and the band, short on money but not on musical ideas set up an 8 track tape machine in their rehearsal space and set about recording the follow up album to their well received debut. The resulting album was titled "Heavy Light Ears", it was released in 1995. It was met with a rave review in the College Music Journal which hailed Radeff as a "guitar genius" and Donkey as a band that "is all about music and not about attitude." Long time Toronto original music impresario Gary Topp reviewed it as "having a twist, a little twisted maybe but original and provoking." "Heavy Light Ears" also managed to get significant airplay in eastern Europe, in Bulgaria and in Romania where Radio Prahova DJ Chris Hirdau called it "absolutely brilliant". No videos were made for the songs but that was only because money would not allow. Yet Donkey had definitely made their mark.
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