Welcome to my website!
I have been a full-time professional musician, composer, performer and producer for the past 45 years and have played concerts and music festivals throughout Canada, The US, China (three times), Korea, the Caribbean and Mexico.
In 1980 I became the Musical Director, composer and eventually, owner of the Frantic Follies Vaudeville Revue in Whitehorse, Yukon. A job I remained at for the next 40+ seasons. The Frantic Follies ran for 48 years and entertained over 2.5 million people.
Throughout the 1980s I worked on Cruise Ships as pianist, entertainer and Musical Director exposing me to so many places I would have never seen otherwise. I spent years in the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Grand Cayman Island and throughout the US.
Through the 1990s I toured throughout the USA and Canada as a pianist including a stint in Anaheim California. The Frantic Follies teamed up with the Yukon Government and we toured throughout Canada and the USA helping to promote tourism in the Yukon.
During the 2000s I performed in Korea for six months with a trio, released my first solo recording (Stride and True) and formed a band with Alan Matheson, Lloyd Arntzen and Craig Scott called New Orleans North and we released an album of the same name. The band toured throughout Canada, the USA and also played at the Nanjing Jazz and World Music Festival in Nanjing China. I also played in a Duo with master guitarist Don Ogilvie and we played together in Shanghai at the “Hello Allo Canada” Event put on in Shanghai by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. I returned to China twice more with different bands in 2010 and 2013.
I toured also with folk artist and singer/songwriter Kate Weekes throughout Canada including two trips to China to perform in various cities. Kate and I recorded one CD together called “Beneath the Yukon Moon“.
In 2012 I formed a duo with Annie Avery called Two Piano Tornado and we have recorded three CDs together and have toured throughout Canada together numerous times and continue to play shows as often as we can.
In 2018 I moved to Winnipeg and stay as busy as ever making music with my bandmates in the Spectacles, or Two Piano Tornado. I also have my own Swing Quartet, The Grant Simpson Quartet and also am a member of two different dance bands.
Solo, duo or full band – I love playing in a wide variety of configurations. Making music is the key and I love every note.
If you’d like to read more about my teachers and the early years of learning my trade you can read more here.