Lori Dokken has played and appealed to the patrons of every major and minor music venue in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The "Beloved Twin Cities singer and pianist" (Minneapolis StarTribune, June '96) entertains with an eccentric charm, talent and wit that embraces an audience like an old friend.

Comfortable in radio, television and stage performance. She has been a welcomed guest on numerous radio talk shows, a delightful host for comedy shows and fundraisers and has performed in stage productions and on television. Locally she has appeared on such stages as The Guthrie Theater, The State Theater, the Times Bar and Café, The Dakota Bar and Grill, the Town House, The Gay 90's, Backstage at Bravo, Ivories, and countless other venues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul areas as well as clubs in Chicago and Los Angeles.

As a featured headliner, producer, musical director and cabaret performer with RSVP Vacations, www.rsvpvacations.com, Lori has traveled the world with them to perform in such places as Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Europe, Alaska, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Mexico and numerous Caribbean locations.

Never afraid to share her stage, Lori has used her talents in a variety of teaching arenas. For more than 20 years, she has encouraged and promoted up and coming vocalists/performers with her weekly open mics and showcases. In the formal classroom, she is a dynamic and nurturing mentor and is currently a member of the voice faculty at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, www.mcnallysmith.edu.

Lori's strength lies in getting people to do things for others. What this means is organizing 300 entertainers for 13 hours of continuous music, dance and comedy for a local HIV/AIDS service organization benefit, finding several top notch performers to sing at an Alzheimer's fundraiser and orchestrating the annual Dizzy Dokken's Charity Golf Tournament. Her 20 year post as Entertainer Director has earned receipts well over $ 1,000,000. Although largely philanthropic, her production and performing skills have also been utilized by major corporations in training programs involving quality and diversity and entertainment for holiday parties. The Association of Women in Radio and Television, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, and the Minneapolis Mayor's Inaugural Ball.

Her benefit productions have featured such celebrity guests as: Lucie Arnaz, Sally Struthers, Sandy Duncan, Loni Anderson and Bea Arthur.

An avid golfer, she was the Founder and Organizer of Dizzy Dokken's Annual Charity Golf Tournament, which ran for 10 years and benefitted Camp Heartland, a summer camp for kids living with HIV/AIDS.

She and her partner of 18 years, Kate, were the Executive Producers of her 1995 CD, "Old Friends", and they also produced 2 CD's for the critically acclaimed vocal group, "the girls" , featuring Judi Donaghy, Erin Schwab, Lori and former member Debbie Duncan. The current line-up, including Judi, Erin, Lori and legendary vocalist, Patty Peterson, www.pattypeterson.com , is frequently featured at local Twin Cities' clubs, including The Times Bar and Cafe (www.timesbarandcafe.com ), The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant (www.dakotacooks.com ) and Blanche's Piano Lounge at The Town House (www.townhousebar.com ). They are planning to record a new CD in 2006-2007. For further information about "the girls" , go here.

Lori has won numerous awards, her most beloved being "Best Musician of 1999" - voted by the readers of Lavender Magazine. Others include: Honorable Mention Award - The John Lennon Songwriting Contest - 2001, the WCCO Radio "Good Neighbor" Award, Eleven Who Care Nominee - KARE 11 (NBC Affiliate) The Thomas S. Hansen Humanitarian Award for Community Service. 1994 Grand Marshall of GLBT Pride Parade with Minnesota Senator Allen Spear and the Community Service Award from The Imperial Sovereign Court of The Ice Castle -ISCIC.

She has worked with or opened for such notables as: Bobby McFerrin, Jane Oliver, Beatrice Arthur, Jennifer Holiday, Eartha Kitt, Carole King and Tony Bennett.

So... how do you describe Lori Dokken? Tricia Booker, a writer with Skyway News, said it best in the Arts Registry of 1994:

"Pardon Lori Dokken if she doesn't act like a star. She sings like one - belting out old favorites in a smoky-velvet voice. She looks like one, too, with tanned, sculpted cheekbones and a flashy white smile."

Dokken is pure entertainer, the way entertainers are supposed to be....her act isn't stale - this woman loves what she does. And what she does is something else.... Dokken talks to her audience like she wants to know them better.

When she sings, she seems to forget where she is. Her face tells us as much about the lyrics as the words coming out of her mouth, and the energy she puts into each song makes you forget who the original artist was.... You'll always be a star to us."

FFI:

Swedish Girl Music Company
2751 Hennepin Ave. So., # 194
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Email to:dizzydokken@worldnet.att.net

To contact Lori, click here .

Copyright © 2006
Photos: Ann Marsden
Lori Dokken