Don Dokken
| Don Dokken | |
|---|---|
Don Dokken live on June 21, 2008 in West Fargo, North Dakota. Photo by Matt Becker
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Donald Maynard Dokken |
| Born | June 29, 1953 |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres |
Glam metal Heavy metal Hard rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, tambourine, drums, percussion, harmonica |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Elektra, CMC International |
| Associated acts | Dokken, Scorpions, Hear 'n Aid |
| Website | http://www.dokkencentral.com |
Donald Maynard "Don" Dokken (born June 29, 1953) is an American heavy metal vocalist, best known for being the lead singer, occasional guitarist, and founder of the band Dokken. He used to be known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style which has made him an influential figure in American hard rock and heavy metal. After enjoying mainstream success with Dokken, he parted ways with the band in 1988 and pursued a solo career. His 1990 solo album, Up from the Ashes, featured Europe guitarist John Norum, Accept bassist Peter Baltes and future Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee, and spawned two singles. He and drummer Mick Brown are the only remaining original members of Dokken.
Don reformed Dokken in the early 1990s and has been continuing on with the band ever since. He released his second solo album, titled Solitary in 2008; it was a stylistic departure from his Dokken material.
In the late 1970s, Don Dokken was playing in a Los Angeles-based band called Airborn, and had the opportunity to reach a record deal in Germany. After seeing the band Xciter, and future bandmates George Lynch and Mick Brown, he knew that they would complete the band that would land the record deal. Although Lynch and Brown were not interested in joining forces with him when he first contacted them, he went ahead to Germany. Don, with the help of one of Xciter's songs, did get the record deal, and he finally convinced Lynch and Brown, along with bassist Juan Croucier, to join him in Dokken soon after he received it.
During his time in Germany, Dokken befriended the German band Scorpions, and sang with them in rehearsals for their Blackout album while lead vocalist Klaus Meine was being treated for nodes on his vocal cords. Meine recovered and returned to record the album, although Dokken's background vocals remained on several tracks.
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