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Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist, Producer and rabid music lover, Dale Ockerman has toured, recorded, or performed professionally with such artists as:
The White Album Ensemble (2004- present);
Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste ( Meters drummer 1998-2002);
Doobie Brothers (1988-‘96);
Patrick Simmons (solo career 1983- ‘88);
Bill Champlin (1978- );
Eden Ahbez (r.i.p. composer- "Nature Boy");
Rita Coolidge (1984);
Quicksilver Messenger Service (1971,’98);
Steve Marriott;
The Wild Magnolias;
Jerry Miller Band;
“Legends of the Blues” featuring Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith;
Coco Montoya;
Bob Mosley;
Omar Spence (Skip Spence tribute concerts);
The Call;
IAM;
Snail;
Airtight;
The Ducks;
Maria Muldaur;
Sista Monica;
Mighty Mike Schermer;
Chris Cain;
GUITARMY;
The "Long story" would be- Dale started writing songs at the age of four, and playing trumpet at six. He soon started playing organ, then mandolin, then blues harp, then anything he could find to make sounds on became fair game. Along the way, he got into guitar, electric sitar, bass, and the horrors of MIDI.
His first paying gig was with Quicksilver Messenger Service at 18, the closing week of Bill Graham's Fillmore West. While filling the shoes of one idol, Nicky Hopkins (incomparable piano for the Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, and the Beatles before QMS), another, hammond player/ guitarist, vocalist Bill Champlin was in an opening band!
Living in Boulder Creek, California in the late 60's, Dale's friend Peter Lewis lent him his Martin and Les Paul guitars for a year. Peter, Don Stevenson, and Jerry Miller (Moby Grape) mentored Dale, letting him jam and hang out with them listening to records.
Dale listened to Moby Grape records rapturously in high school, while dismissing most rock bands in favor of blues, Moby Grape was top of the list, along with the Yardbirds, Spencer Davis Group and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels.
Dale's first paying gig came at the age of 18 with San Francisco legends Quicksilver Messenger Service at the closing of Bill Graham's Filmore West at the Carousel Ballroom. Dale replaced one of his idols, Nicky Hopkins (Piano for the Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, and the Beatles), auditioning by playing Nicky's instrumental “Edward, The Mad Shirtgrinder.” The show was captured as a motion picture and LP "The Last Days of the Filmore".
After his first tour with Quicksilver Messenger Service, Dale joined the IAM band, and later joined Snail, a top local band. Dale later went on to play with the Ducks, whose notoriety included former member Neil Young, and Moby Grape's Bob Mosely. Dale also played for a time with Michael Been and Airtight. Dale left Airtight to record some solo songs in Los Angeles, re-connecting with Carmen Grillo, who introduced Dale to Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin). They began touring, songwriting and recording together.
Carmen and Dale played in a series of bands together. Moving back to Santa Cruz in the early '80s, Dale helped start another band called the Score with Ken Kraft, Tiran Porter, Richard Bryant and Jimi Fox, writing and performing all-original material. Tiran and Dale also worked together in “The Chain of Fools,” a popular Stax/Motown Rhythm & Blues ensemble. Later, Dale worked with Doobie Brother Pat Simmons on Simmons solo tours of Hong Kong, Japan and the U.S., opening for Starship and Kenny Loggins; appearing on American Bandstand and Solid Gold in (1983); and co-writing songs. In 1984, Dale toured in the U.S. and Canada with vocalist Rita Coolidge.
Dale played with the re-formed Doobie Brothers from 1988 to 1996. Primarily enlisted as a songwriter, Dale became their principal keyboardist and slide guitarist, touring the U.S., Europe and Japan. Dale appeared on The Tonight Show, and London's The International Rock Awards and is featured on ten Doobies CDs, co-writing two songs on the Doobie's Capitol debut, the Gold album Cycle - “Take Me To The Highway,” and “I Can Read Your Mind.” “This Train I'm On” was written for the Doobie's second release Brotherhood. The expanded version of “Brotherhood” included “All Your Dreaming” which was co-written with Richard Bryant. (“This Train I'm On” is also included on the Doobie's box set ‘Long Train Runnin'.)
In between the Doobies tours, Dale found time to record with Sista Monica on her debut CD, Get Outa my Way, and performing with her at The Monterey Blues Festival. Dale can also be heard on Jerry Miller's solo CD "Life's Like That".
Dale 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.”
Dale has performed in New Orleans with special guest Cyril Neville, also doing numerous shows with bass legend George Porter (Meters). “I've always loved New Orleans music, from Dixieland, to Fats Domino, to Professor Longhair, to Allen Toussaint,” says Dale.
Dale has toured Venezuela and California with Sista Monica, and the northwest U.S. with Coco Montoya. He's played with such distinguished and diverse blues acts as Robert Lowery, Tracy Nelson & Angela Strehli, Freebo, Deacon Jones, Mighty Mike Schermer, Chris Cain, Sista Monica, Lou Pride, and Terry Hanck, has played with Rockers like Eddy Money, doing gigs and sessions with Aynsley Dunbar, Robin Trower & Davey Pattison.
Mighty Mike Schermer's second record, Second Set, features Dale's organ and piano, and dale played on the "Live set", Mike's latest 'Live' CD. Dale and Mike co-wrote “Mama Said,” much in the Allan Toussaint/Lee Dorsey style. Dale also produced and co-wrote songs for Aaron Nason's "Living in a Dream", which featured Robben Ford on lead guitar, and former member of Tower of Power Ron E. Beck on drums and vocals.
A longtime Beatles fan, Dale currently plays keyboards, harmonica, mandolin,trumpet, electric sitar 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, Magical Mystery Tour albums, note for note, with 8 to 40 piece ensembles. The White Album Ensemble has raised over $150,000 for music in the schools in Santa Cruz, California and for ‘Guitars Not Guns,' a non-profit anti-violent organization.
After completing his debut solo album "A Peace of My Mind", that was two years in the making, Dale Ockerman has founded Musicscool- teaching music, though he never had a lesson, with an experimental, intuitive and ear based method, in Santa Cruz, California. Musicscool 512 front st Santa Cruz, Ca, 95062. He has played the monterey bay Blues festival for two years as "Dale Ockerman and the Musicscool All- Stars", getting rave reviews, although half the band are students of musicscool- and under 16!
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