A Peace Of My Mind by Dale Ockerman and/or Dale Ockerman Project

He is recently the founder of The Santa Cruz New Music School, a school that teaches Rock, Funk, Blues, Folk, Shamisen, and jazz, using pro musicians, not academics, as teachers.

www.daleockerman.com for lyrics, and more.

A detailed bio is below.

Born in Oroville, and raised in Castro Valley, Ca., Dale started writing songs at four, playing trumpet around six, and soon played in the Cal State Youth symphony in Hayward. When the family moved to Fremont when he was 12, Dale started teaching himself to play an antique pump organ purchased at a garage sale for $10, and promptly let the trumpet sit in its case, as the high notes were making him split his lip, trying to emulate Louis Armstrong. Hearing future Tower of Power/ Sons of Champlin trumpeter Mic Gillette in band class at Mission High actually hitting those notes effortlessly cinched the deal, so he started playing organ, blues harp, and later guitar, not picking up the trumpet again until the White Album Ensemble did the Beatles' "Got to Get You Into My Life" for their "Revolver" show in 2004.

After the classical trumpet phase, he became attracted to Blues, and Psychedelic Rock, playing along with the radio, with pictures of his favorite bands on the bedroom wall, including one of Quicksilver Messenger Service. When (ahem) he was politely invited to leave High School, he moved to Santa Cruz County at 16 to attend the experimental alternative School, Pacific High.  PHS had no grades, dress codes, or attendance requirements, a testament to his parents' (A City of Fremont Recreation Department Director of Volunteer Services, and a Kindergarten teacher/ church Organist) belief in him, along with their getting him his first Hammond Organ with Leslie Speaker, just like Jimmy Smith, or Stevie Winwood, a couple of his favorite artists (still!).

He lived in Boulder Creek, in 1969, renting a room in a cabin from his Astrology teacher. There he met some of his musical idols, the legendary Moby Grape (often referred to as the "American Beatles" for their brilliant songwriting, gorgeous harmonies, musical virtuosity and zany ways, to put it mildly).

The Grape had a huge, well-acknowledged influence on Led Zeppelin, Buffalo Springfield, the Doobie Brothers and many others. Peter Lewis lent him his Martin and Les Paul guitars for a year; Peter, Don Stevenson, and Jerry Miller let him jam, hang out listening to records, and mentored Dale in preparation for his future "calling".

His first paying gig was at 18 with SF psychedelic legends Quicksilver Messenger Service (that picture on the bedroom wall), at the closing of Bill Graham's Fillmore West (the Carousel Ballroom). He replaced one of his idols, Nicky Hopkins (Piano for the Stones, Jeff Beck, and the Beatles), auditioning by playing Nicky's nutty instrumental "Edward, The Mad Shirtgrinder".

The show was captured as a motion picture and LP called "The Last Days of the Fillmore". Opening acts were Sons of Champlin, and Elvin Bishop, Dale is still looking for a copy of that poster for a trophy of his Fillmore initiation.

It was coincidental that his Hammond was painted silver snakeskin!

After his first tour with Quicksilver, he moved to Aptos, ca., attended Cabrillo College, joined the IAM band (who opened for an early Doobie Brothers gig in San Jose, where he met bassist / vocalist Tiran Porter (who's on "A Peace Of My Mind" and has shared stages with Dale in many bands), became friends, jammed with, and eventually joined top local band Snail, with future White Album Ensemble guitarist/ vocalist Ken Kraft. Later, he went on to play with the Ducks (whose notoriety included former member Neil Young, and Moby Grape bassist vocalist extraordinaire Bob Mosely), Michael Been and Airtight who had a deal with RSO records, sadly "Love Will Live Forever" the brilliant funky single was never released, as disco dealt a massive blow to actual music. After Dale bailed, they became the Call, and enjoyed a #1 radio hit in the 80's, "I Still Believe"- and opened for Peter Gabriel.

After leaving Airtight to record some solo songs in L A, and after getting a management deal with a team that included a vice president of Dreamland records.  He re- connected with Aptos pal, guitarist vocalist Carmen Grillo, who introduced Dale to Bill Champlin from the Sons of Champlin, the first Hammond organist Dale ever saw live (now lead vocalist for Chicago, and the coauthor of "After the Love is Gone", a #1 hit for Earth, Wind, and Fire). They began touring, songwriting and recording, Projects varied from originals, to Eden Ahbez' re- recording of "Nature Boy"  (#1 for 6 months in 1946 for Nat "King" Cole) with Bill, Dale, and Jim Keltner; to Alan Thicke TV show soundtracks. Carmen and Dale played in a series of bands together, including the original version of the Score, featuring drummer Tony Braunagel, who went on to play with Bonnie Raitt, and Taj Mahal. Carmen plays in the Sons now, along with Mic. Of The "Bill Champlin and Friends" tour band, Bill went on to play with (and still does) 70s icons Chicago, drummer Doane Perry went on to play with 70s icons Jethro Tull, Carmen spent 13 years with 70s icons Tower of Power, and Dale went on to play with 70s icons The Doobie Brothers. Must have been something in the water...

He worked with Doobie Brother Pat Simmons on his solo tours of Hong Kong, Japan and US, (as the Doobies had broken up at that point) opening for Starship and Kenny Loggins, appearing on "American Bandstand", and "Solid Gold" in '83; and co-writing songs.

He toured in the U S and Canada with vocalist Rita Coolidge (#1"Higher and Higher") in 1984, with Carmen on guitar and vocals, again.

Working with Simmons, as well as Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Tiran logically led to playing with the re-formed Doobie Brothers from 1988 to 1996. Primarily he was enlisted as a songwriter, then as principal keyboardist and slide guitarist, toured US, Europe and Japan, before millions of fans and appeared on "The Tonight Show" twice, and London's "The International Rock Awards". in London. He co-wrote 2 songs on the group's Capitol debut, the Gold album "Cycles" ("Take me to the Highway", and "I Can Read Your Mind") and one on the second release "Brotherhood" ("This Train I'm On"). The expanded version of "Brotherhood" included another, co written with Richard Bryant, "All your Dreaming". "This Train I'm On" was considered essential enough to be included on the band's box set "Long Train Runnin'"

Dale had first seen the Doobies at the Burl Theatre in Boulder Creek in 1970; co- billed with Moby Grape, and he remembered thinking "I'd sound good with these guys". All together he is featured on ten Doobies CDs. (See Discography)

http://www.daleockerman.com/discography.php

In and out of the Doobies tours, Dale found time to record with Sista Monica on her debut CD, "Get Outa my Way", and perform at The Monterey Blues festival with her; Jerry Miller's solo CD "Life's like that"; and served as music director for numerous South Bay Blues awards, backing Albert Collins, Greg Allman, Maria Muldaur, Lydia Pense, Buddy Miles.

From 1998 to 2002, he played with another musician he'd always admired, drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste (Meters, Dr. John, Keith Richards, Harry Connick Jr.) and the New Ahkesstra, and contributed piano and keyboard solos to his first solo CD, "zigaboo.com".

"I've always loved New Orleans music, from Dixieland, to Fats Domino, to Professor Longhair, to Allen Toussaint", says Dale, who recently did the World Music Festival, and the SF Erotic Exotic Ball playing piano for Mardis Gras Indian funkateers "(Big Chief Bo Dollis and) The Wild Magnolias". He played the main stage at the prestigious New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (2002) with the "Mags", and has performed in N. O. with special guest Cyril Neville, and numerous shows with Meters Bass legend George Porter.

Dale has recently toured Venezuela and California with Sista Monica, and the northwest U.S. with Coco Montoya. He's also 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. He also could be seen with Rockers like Eddy Money, or doing gigs and sessions with Aynsley Dunbar, and Robin Trower/ Gamma vocalist Davey Pattison

He can be seen from time to time with The Sly McFly's All Stars, at Sly's in Monterey, featuring blues whiz Mighty Mike Schermer ( Maria Muldaur, Angela Strehli), Dennis Murphy (Acoustic Alchemy) and David Tucker (Maria Muldaur).

Dale has been recording with, and performs a few times a year with Moby Grape guitarist's Jerry Miller Band with Tiran, and Fuzzy John Oxindine, who are all on "A Peace Of My Mind".

He also played on the latest album, TRUE BLUE, on Germany's Taxim records, by legendary Moby Grape vocalist bassist Bob Mosely.It was recorded at Prairie Sun studio in Cotati with Sons of Champlin drummer Jim Preston, Bob and Dale.

Mighty Mike Schermer's second record, "Second Set" -features Dale's organ and piano. Dale and Mike wrote a song together, "Mama Said", very much in the Lee Dorsey mode, that's getting heard on KPIG a lot, these days.

Dale produced, co wrote songs for the Aaron Nason CD, "Living in a Dream", which featured Robben Ford on Guitar, plus percussionist Michael Spiro, and former Tower of Power drummer Ron E Beck.

Recently completed is Emrys Hanley's CD, "Walking on Storm Clouds", a brilliant songwriter not unlike Donovan or Cat Stevens.

Dale spent two years producing and helping handcraft this CD into a real gem that should be released soon. It features many of the same players and singers that Dale used on "A Peace Of my Mind" including Tiran Porter, Richard Bryant, Dave Tucker, Will Russ, and Tammi Brown, as well as Black Uhuru/ Peter Tosh/ Dub Syndicate Bassist- Guitarist Vince Black. The record features the last vocal harmonies recorded of the late, great Ray Simpson, who was going to sing on Dale's record, but who's time came too soon, though his inspiration is in every track.

A longtime Beatles fan, Dale produces the shows, plays keyboards, harmonica, trumpet, mandolin and guitar in The White Album Ensemble, who've sold out over 15 concerts in theatres- doing the White Album, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Peppers, Magical Mystery Tour albums, note for note, with 8 to 15 piece ensembles. They've raised over 20,000$ for music in the schools in Santa Cruz, and Guitars, not Guns, a non-profit, non-violent organization. This leads to Dale's latest endeavor after finishing "A Peace of My Mind"- founding the Santa Cruz New Music School, 512 Front St., Santa Cruz, a new and daunting task that is modestly trying to take the place of now defunct music in the schools programs, but with a Rock/ Blues/ Soul/ Gospel/ Funk angle.

  © 2005 Dale Ockerman

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