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“It’s been a long road to get to where I am today.†Born in Timmins, Ontario Canada – right, Shania’s adopted hometown. Grew up listening to country music, and until she was in her mid-teens, Dionne says: “I didn’t know there was any other kind of music. Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith, Patsy Cline, and Tammy Wynette could always be heard coming from my house.†She later spent many years in Toronto, and was exposed to a lot of other genre’s of music which inevitably led to some eclectic tastes in music: “I can appreciate a great song no matter what the genre is……..but I always have greater expectations from a country song because they have always been about real life, and real people – both tragedies and triumphs– people just like me.†In Toronto, Dionne constantly wrote songs and had the aspirations of being a great writer. Moved to Nashville in May of 97 to be a songwriter. In just a few short months Penny was pitching her songs to publishers, and had many opportunities to meet producers, management and artists at various industry functions. “I am very ambitious and driven so it wasn’t long before the question came up that would lead to changing the course of my future.†Dionne asked several industry people; “if I have my own publishing company with great songs, would you listen to them?†Dionne doesn’t remember now how many people told her “yes†but says that she remembers one “yes†from Byron Gallimore back in 1998. “I don’t know if he was serious, or even remembers that, but it was a pivotal moment for me because at that moment I decided that I was going to open my own publishing company.†In 1998, Purple Moon Music was born and had some small successes. “I had no idea how much work was involved in starting a publishing company. “ Purple Moon was definitely a fast track in publishing education, and most importantly, a reality check on my catalog.†Dionne started pitching songs for other writers at this time which ultimately let her to be an ‘in demand’ song plugger now. Purple Moon dissolved, but Dionne already had the vision of a new company. With renewed enthusiasm, more experience & understanding the needs of the songwriter, the record labels and the artists; Dionne began planning a new venture on her own. That company is Little Vixen Music which has been around since early 2003. “At one time, I had the aspirations of being a great writer. OccasionallyI can write a great song, but I have the best of the best to see where any song that I write or someone else writes ‘sits’ in comparison to the thousands of songs I have surely listened to by this time†Dionne typically works a 12 to 16 hour day, and insists that “networking is a key element for success, and a complete necessity for entrepreneurs and Independents.†Dionne is very involved with the Nashville Humane Association and promotes it whenever possible while reminding pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats. Since 2002, Dionne runs the music-related fund-raising events with the NH A through her volunteer work as the Music Events Coordinator. Dionne says; “I get to work hand in hand with the artists, management and labels to make it all come together. A lot of music industry people have pets and are very generous with their support of the Nashville Humane Association.†Dionne says her volunteer work with NHA, and music is her greatest love because “I get to combine two of the most important treasures in my life, and that is combining my love for animals with my passion for music and the ability to be able to make a difference.†I have a little dog who was rescued from the shelter; Lil Vixen – she looks exactly like a red fox, and a 2 year old cat named Nakita, and the wonderful memory of Capone; my gentle feline who passed. In a nutshell; I consider myself a lover of great songs; an advocate for our furry felines and canines, a ‘get it done’ kind of person and a work ethic that leaves others in the dust.â€
