Dale Ockerman
Biography
It is said that a person is known by the company he keeps. If so, it should be said that Dale Ockerman has toured with, composed for and recorded with the Doobie Brothers, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Rita Coolidge, Bill Champlin, Zigaboo Modeliste, Jerry Miller & Bob Mosley, Steve Marriot, Coco Montoya, Sista Monica Parker, Lou Pride, Chris Cain, and many more.
Dale taught himself to play organ on an antique pump organ purchased at a garage sale for ten dollars. Growing up in the late ’60s in the San Francisco Bay area, Dale regularly attended the $3.00 Sunday shows at Bill Graham’s Fillmore. Dale was also inspired by early friendships formed with Moby Grape’s Jerry Miller and Bob Mosley. Dale’s first paying gig came at the age of 18 with San Francisco legends Quicksilver Messenger Service at the closing of the Fillmore West where Dale replaced Nicky Hopkins.
Dale toured with the Doobie Brothers from 1988 to 1996 and is featured on ten Doobie’s CDs. In between the Doobie’s tours, Dale found time to record with Sista Monica on her debut CD, Get Outa My Way, performing with her at The Monterey Blues Festival. Dale can also be heard on Jerry Miller’s solo CD Life’s Like That. Dale has served as music director for numerous South Bay Blues awards, while also backing luminaries Albert Collins, Greg Allman, Maria Muldaur, Lydia Pense, and Buddy Miles. From 1998 to 2002, Dale played with drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste and the New Ahkesstra, contributing piano and keyboard solos to Mr. Modeliste’s first solo CD. In 2002, Dale played the main stage at the prestigious New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with the “Mags.” Mighty Mike Schermer’s second record, Second Set, features Dale’s organ and piano. Dale and Mike co-wrote “Mama Said,” much in the Lee Dorsey style. Dale also produced and co-wrote songs for Aaron Nason’s, Living in a Dream.
A longtime Beatles fan, Dale currently plays keyboards, harmonica, mandolin and guitar in the White Album Ensemble. Dale also produces the shows for White Album Ensemble. White Album Ensemble plays to sold out crowds — performing the White Album, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s, and Magical Mystery Tour albums, note for note, with 8 to 15 piece ensembles. (White Album Ensemble has raised over $20,000 for music in the schools in Santa Cruz, California and for ‘Guitars Not Guns,’ a non-profit anti-violent organization.)
Dale, Jerry Miller and Bob Mosley still get together to play whenever they can. Two years in the making, the Dale Ockerman Project debut solo album, A Peace of My Mind, is receiving rave reviews. Dale has also founded the Santa Cruz based Musicscool, “school of rock,” an intuitive-based music school that is turning out to be for Dale “Some of the most fun I’ve ever had.”
Albums
Solo Album
Dale Ockerman Project: A Peace of My Mind (2005)
(Producer, arranger, engineer, writer, multi-instrumentalist)
Selected discography:
Zigaboo Modeliste
Zigaboo.com (JZM 2000) (Organ, Piano, Synth solo)Doobie Brothers
Best of the Doobie Brothers Live (Sony)
Doobie’s Choice (Rhino)
Long Train Runnin’ box set (Warner Brothers special products)
Rockin Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert (Sony)
Brotherhood (Capitol)
Cycles (Capitol)
The Doobie Brothers Greatest Hits 2001 (Rhino)Jerry Miller
Life’s Like That (Messaround 1996)
(Organ, Piano)Deacon Jones
Blues for Money (2004)
(Piano, Clav, Rhodes)Quicksilver Messenger Service
The Last days of the Fillmore (1972) (Film and soundtrack)Arthur Godfrey
This is Americana (Compilation 2005)
(Keyboards, producer)
If I Only Knew Your Name (Stampman 2004)
(Keyboards, producer)
Amen (Stampman 2004)
(Keyboards, producer)
East Side of Town (Stampman 2002)Tim Goodman
Footsteps (Columbia)
(Keyboards, songwriter)Sista Monica
Get Outa My Way (Mo Muscle)
(Organ)Estradasphere
Quadropus (2003)
(Organ, Piano)Emrys Hanley
Walking on Storm Clouds (2005)
(Producer, engineer, co-writer, multi-instrumentalist)Davey Pattison
Mississippi Nights (Organ, Piano)
Pictures (Organ, Piano)David Tucker
Endangered (Sknnycat 2004)
(Organ, Piano)Santa Cruz Blues After Hours (Bluestraxx Compilation)
“Roses on the Piano, Tulips on the Organ” by Dale OckermanDarnell Gill
Bring It On (db records 2005)
(Lead guitar)Terry Hanck
I Keep Holdin’ On (Mo Muscle)
(Piano)Mighty Mike Schermer Band
Second Set (2005)
(Piano, Organ, Songwriter)Ronnie Barnes
Wonderful Woman (Keyboards, songwriter)
Peace to the streets (Keyboards, programming)Elio Schiavo
Child of Orbit (Phonosynthesis 2001)
(Organ, Piano)Sherry Austin
Drive By Romance (Barking Topiary 2004)
(Organ, Piano)Solcircle
Solcircle (Audio Amigos 2002)
(Organ, Piano)Aaron Nason
Living in a Dream (AJ 2002)
(Producer, Slide guitar, acoustic guitar, songwriter, Organ, Piano)Andy Santana
Swingin, Rockin, Jumpin, Jivin
(Piano)Gary Lamb
When East Meets West
(Organ)The Dummies From Nowhere
Has-Beens Before They Was (Hall of Records 1974)
(Balalaika, sleigh bells, fynardin)
Reviews
A PEACE OF MY MIND
“There’s a lot to like, beginning with some wonderfully made music. Well-produced, well performed — it’s polished and pleasurable to listen to. Ockerman’s cadre of musicians deliver the funk convincingly, laying down a groove that’s decidedly New Orleans-influenced, perhaps due to the strong presence of Big Easy native Joseph ‘Zigaboo’ Modeliste, who performs on several tracks. Solos are plentiful and strong.”
Offbeat Magazine, New Orleans, May 2006
“He’s recorded and toured with the Doobies, anchored incredible live reproductions of the Beatles’ White Album and Revolver, and backed many other frontliners, so it’s great that the outstanding and multitalented Ockerman finally steps out front to deliver his first solo CD. He penned most of the tunes, which cover an eclectic mix of rock, gospel, soul, and New Orleans funk, and plays wicked keys — tons of kick-ass B-3 plus Rhodes, synths, and piano — and guitar. Among those joining him in this celebration of song are bassist Tiran Porter and saxman/vocalist Cornelius Bumpus (both of the Doobie Brothers), Joseph ‘Zigaboo’ Modeliste (the Meters), brassman Mic Gillette (Tower of Power), Jerry Miller (Moby Grape), and a variety of vocal artists. Peace was two years in the making. Maybe it can carry worldwide influence.”
— Mark Vail
Keyboard Magazine, ’05
“Good things come to those who wait and A Peace of Mind, by Dale Ockerman, was well worth the wait! This CD is awesome! Dale, keyboardist/guitarist for an incredible number of bands ranging from Moby Grape to the Doobie Brothers and beyond, shows why he is a player so in demand. Dale shines on these tunes, playing Hammond B3, piano, lead, rhythm, slide and acoustic guitar, and a host of other instruments. He's joined by a mulitude of friends, including Tower of Power trumpet/trombonist, Mic Gillette; Doobie Brother bassist, Tiran Porter; Meters drummer, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste; Moby Grape guitarist, Jerry Miller; and, one of my personal favourites, Doobie Brother saxophonist, Cornelius "Corny" Bumpus. The selections move through a myriad of styles, from blues- to-funk-to-Rock and Roll. ‘Judgment Day (Badlands Lullaby)’ floors me. This song should receive major airplay. It has to be the first acoustic Blues song to utilize not only keys, bass, drums, and guitar, but tamboura, mandolin, tablas, and Egyptian frame drums! Gregg Allman needs to check this tune out! This is definately an ‘maximum stars’ recording. Buy yourself a copy now. You won't forgive yourself, otherwise!”
— WandrinStar Reviews, Amazon.com
“Dale- that is a BAD mutha#$%^! Congratulations, my man. You have outdone yourself.”
— Tom Johnston (lead vocalist,
lead guitar Doobie Bros,
“China Grove,” “Listen to the Music”)
“Yeah Baby! This is the closest thing to the West Coast Meters I've ever been involved with. A Peace Of My Mind is a classic!”
— Mic Gillette (trumpet and brass, original Tower of Power horns)
