Listen to Nick
Passion. The word is used again and again when describing Nick Granato, his music, his performances, and even his life. Nicks music carries an uncompromising attitude; award winning Singer/Songwriter Nick Granato delivers them with a passion and authority that can only be accomplished with a life of experience.
Nick always knew that music would be his lifes passion. At the age of 7, he started writing songs and playing the guitar. Over the years he has had over 300+ songs recorded, and some 50+ charting singles, producing numerous awards, honors and nominations. His songs have been covered by some highly notable names in various music genres like Randy Travis, Pamala Stanley, Bette Midler, Stella Parton, Heirline, Crystal Gayle, Michael Grimm, Eddie Rabbitt & Juice Newton, to name a few. His music has also been utilized by organizations like; the U.S. Olympic Committee, United Way, Ocean's First, The Audubon Society, the Florida Department Of Tourism, Children's Outreach International, The Sea Watch Foundation, Hospice International, Coastal Earth and most recently the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure and the National Stop-Hate Campaign.
As an entertainer, Nick has performed in many noted (and not so noted) venues; The Grand Ole Opry (Nashville TN), Bottomline (NY NY), Playboy Club/Americana (Great Gorge NJ), Blue Bird Café (Nashville TN), Ryman Auditorium (Nashville TN), Walt Disney World (Orlando FL), Margaritaville (Key West, FL), Summer House (Ft Walton Beach FL), Hogsbreath (Key West & Emerald Coast FL), BayWinds Club (Nassau Bahamas), ElboRoom (Ft Lauderdale FL) Atlantis Resort(Paradise Island, Bahamas), Dollywood (Pigeon Forge TN), the Norwegian Cruise Lines (the Dawn, the Sun & The Pride Of America), Seminole Casino (Coconut Creek, FL), Seminole Hard Rock Casino (Hollywood, FL), and many others. Nick has also shared the stage with many major artists including Melissa Etheridge, Mary Chapin-Carpenter & Pamala Stanley. You can find his talents as a professional background vocalist on many recordings between 1982 and 1988. In 1989 Nick recorded and released an Inspirational CD on the Spiritwind Label; the CD produced 2 top 10 charting singles and several award nominations.
As a music business professional, Nick Granato sat as Director of Publishing for the Chestnut Mound Music Group, one of the worlds largest and prolific Christian music catalogs. Nick also served as VP/Senior A&R Director of Gateway Entertainment, as well as Director of Publishing at CAL IV Christian in Nashville TN. After his departure from CAL IV Christian in 2000, Nick focused on his songwriting until 2002 when he decided to pursue the performing side of his artistry, he hit the road, and expanded his own music publishing company, Song Harbor Music/BMI, into a full independent music publishing and record label, Song Harbor Inc. The first CD release in 2003 "SunDance" on the Song Harbor label was a commercial and critical success, garnering Nick a command performance for then Governor & Mrs. Jeb Bush of Florida. Nicks' Florida Style music caused his touring schedule to triple and subsequently was voted one of South Florida's top entertainers. In 2005, Nick was also honored with the Horizon Award by the readership of The SongFolk Journal and his song "Florida's Son" was nominated for "Song of the Year". The planned Fall 2005 release of his sophomore CD "Plastic Pink Flamingos" was delayed because of the violent 2005 Hurricane season, and was eventually released in early January 2006. Nick's fan-base embraced the CD, sales snowballed, and the grass-root efforts continued to broaden his popularity. The title song from the CD "Plastic Pink Flamingos", was used by the State Of Florida Dept Of Tourism as a theme song for their 2006-2007 season advertising and subsequently was considered as the new Florida State song. There are at least 4 known "Pinky the Flamingo" tattoos (Nick's mascot) adorning female Flockers roaming the earth!
In mid 2006, work began on a new CD project. Seeing the injustices and the need for social change in our culture, Nick decided to redefine his music and message. Complete with a new sound, and a new attitude, the new Nick Granato CD "Outside The Lines" was quietly released in March 2007 and immediately began to receive rave reviews. In April 2007 in a joint effort with NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines) Nick ventured out on a 3 month international promotional tour that took him from NYC to Hawaii, Mexico & Canada, completing that leg of the tour in Key West Florida with the R-Family Cruises. Home for only 3 weeks, Nick picked up the remainder of the tour on land which took him to the Gulf Coast and the New England States. Nick's CD "Outside The Lines" went on to firmly hold an astounding 4 months at the #1 position in the prestigious Outvoice Top 40 Charts in 2007. In May of 2008 The CD resurged to take the #1 position for the 5th time. To date the CD has produced an astounding eight #1 songs, including his song "My Ordinary Life" & "Color Outside the Lines" on the Sirius Radio Hot 20 in October & November 2007. In September 2007 the Stonewall Society honored Nick with an astounding 5 nominations for their revered Pride In The Arts Awards. On November 30th, 2007, Nick captured two of their highest honors CD/Album of The Year and the coveted Artist Of The Year. **
In February 2008 Nick's song "My Ordinary Life" broke into Billboard Magazine's A/C Chart at #89, virtually unheard of these days by an independent artist.
"All this attention means people are hearing, and acknowledging the message of change, and thats really the most important thing" - Nick Granato
With 2007 becoming a hallmark year for Nick Granato, 2008 continued the excitement by remaining at the top of several charts throughout the year. In April 2009 Nick was awarded a Songwriting Grant from The International Arts Endowment Cultural Division so that he can continue to further the message of acceptance and diversity through his music.
In mid October 2009 Nick released his much anticipated new CD "In Real Life", which contains some of Nick's best material to date. The CD also has a stunning duet with Disco Diva Pamala Stanley (From The Inside Out).
2010 kicked of with 4 Nominations for the Stonewall Society "Pride in The Arts 2009", and 2 nominations from the SongFolk Journal, though Nick did not win, it moved his latest Cd "In Real Life" to the forefront. Everything was in place for another huge surge in Nicks popularity, as his fan-base (affectionately referred to as Flockers) continued to become quite a force with Nick's fan-club numbering over 13,000 members, until March 2010 when Nick collapsed on stage during a performance in Miami Beach.
Nick was diagnosed with a painful neuro-muscular disorder resembling MS - Facing the reality of being unable to play or perform, Nick was forced to cancel his national tour to promote his "In Real Life" CD, and take time to consult with his Doctors and rehabilitate. To date, no announcement has been made about when or if Nick will resume performing.
UPDATE: Though Nick has not been able to resume his live musical performances, he has successfully continued to follow his first love of songwriting and he can be heard as the Co-Host of the popular natonally syndicated radio show "Voice Of Real America/Point On Point" at www.pointonpoint.com
"When you listen to Nick's music, he becomes part of your journey, and you a part of his. He skillfully reaches deep inside each of us, in hopes of bringing to the surface the common human element of compassion" -Todd Van Harmon/SongFolk Journal
HEAR LIVE CHANGE EVOLVE (updated 07/11)
