Douglas R. Docker

Douglas R. Docker (born 16 June 1967) is an American-French musician, singer, songwriter and producer known for his work with Docker's Guild, a progressive-metal space opera, and as a member of Cheap Prick, an Italian Cheap Trick tribute act. He has also worked with artists including Shining Line and Tony Mills. Docker is also the founder and owner of the Black Swan Rock School of Music, a music and ESL teaching facility located in Italy.[1][2][3][4]

Douglas R. Docker
Douglas R. Docker performing live (May 2012)
Background information
Birth nameDouglas Ralph Docker
Born (1967-06-16) 16 June 1967
Auxerre, France
GenresRock and others
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter, composer, producer
InstrumentsPiano, keyboards, bass, vocals
Years active1977–present
LabelsLion Music, Massacre Records
Associated actsTony Mills, Shining Line
WebsiteDocker's Guild Official Website

Biography

Classical music (1977-1999)

From 1977 to 1981, Docker performed as a second violinist in the orchestra of the Istituto Musicale Corelli of Pinerolo.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] From 1978 to 1988 he competed as a pianist in about a dozen international classical piano competitions (Senigallia, Stresa, Bardolino, Torre Pellice, Capri), receiving two first prizes.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] He also performed in recitals as a classical pianist throughout the 1980s.[23][24]

In September of 1989, he obtained a BA in Classical Piano at the Conservatory of Cuneo.[25] He was then hired to play piano and organ on the album Ave Maria by Italian tenor Antonio Caffaro.[26]

In June 1996, Docker briefly returned to classical music with a recital called "Paesaggi Esotici", performed at the Turin Museum of Natural History. Featuring Mio Nakamura on vocals, the program included operatic arias and traditional songs linked by the common theme of "the exotic" (particularly Asia).[27]

In November 1999, he performed Allegro de Concierto by Enrique Granados at the SFI-Västertorp in Stockholm for its yearly Kulturdagen (Culture Day).[28]

Docker's Guild (2008–present)

Docker returned to Italy in January 2008. In 2011 he published an article cataloging the Waldensian musical heritage.[29][30]

In 2008, Docker began a project named "Docker's Guild". Its album The Mystic Technocracy – Season 1: The Age of Ignorance was released in 2012 on Lion Music, described by the artist's record label as a progressive rock space opera.[31] Performers on the album included Tony Franklin, Guthrie Govan, Jeff Watson, Greg Bissonette, Goran Edman, John Payne, Tony Mills, and Amanda Somerville. In 2016 Docker released a crowdfunded sequel entitled The Heisenberg Diaries – Book A: Sounds of Future Past. Aside from Docker, all special guests appearing on the album were women from the rock and metal world.

A Season 2 – "The Age of Entropy" – was planned but has no firm release date. Docker stated that: "Season 2 is in the works, but the format will change. The age of rock operas has passed and it's time to focus on the music rather than on the names." Despite this, he has confirmed that Anna Portalupi (Hardline) will be playing bass on the album and that drumming duties will be handled by Elisa "Helly" Montin (The Anunnaki, Cattivator Of Death, Übermensch).[32][33][34][35][36][37][38] In 2020, Docker released a track from Season 2 "Die Today" as a pre-production demo on the project's blog.[39]

In September 2019, Docker organized and headlined the Tony Mills Festival. The festival was intended to honor his recently deceased collaborator Tony Mills, as well as raising funds for the Mills family and cancer research. The show marked the first live appearance of Docker's Guild in four years.[40]

Cheap Prick

In the 2014, Docker formed Cheap Prick, a Cheap Trick tribute act that has performed live shows in Italy.[41]

Vivaldi Metal Project

In 2013, Docker was hired as an arranger and as the official lyricist for the Vivaldi Metal Project.[42][43]

In 2019 it was announced that Docker had left his position.[44][45]

Discography

Reliquay de Spleen
  • GentiEmergenti 2 – compilation cassette (1986), keyboards on "Autolesionismo"[46]

Anatema
  • Suonomodo – compilation LP (1988), keyboards on "Love You Sometime"[47]

Antonio Caffaro
  • Ave Maria (1989), classical piano and pipe organ[48]

Douglas R. Docker
  • Leykam Murztaler Soundtrack (1990), keyboards and programming, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer[49]
  • PWA IP Soundtrack (1991), keyboards and programming, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer[49]

Biloxi
  • Let the Games Begin (1993), did not play on album, but was featured in all album credits and photos, and supplied keyboards on US promotional tour[50]

Area 51
  • In the Desert (1996), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer[51]
  • La Musica dal Vivo book and CD (2019), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer on "Night Time"[52]

Rustfield
  • Demo 2009 (2009), guest keyboard solos on "Compromising", "Waxhopes" and "High Waters"[53]
  • Kingdom of Rust (2013), guest keyboard solos on "Compromising", "Waxhopes" and "High Waters", piano on "Love Moan"[53][54]

Docker's Guild
  • The Mystic Technocracy Demo (2009), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer[55]
  • The Mystic Technocracy – Season 1: The Age of Ignorance (2012), keyboards, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer[56]
  • The Heisenberg Diaries - Book A: Sounds of Future Past (2016), keyboards, lead and backing vocals, arranger, engineer and producer[57]
  • This Is Rock Vol. 1 - compilation (2019), keyboards, backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer on "The Mystic Technocracy" and "Black Swans"[58]

Shining Line
  • Shining Line (2010), guest keyboards on "Strong Enough"[59]

Last40Days
  • Lost and Found (2013), proofreading, vocal and pronunciation coaching[60]

Tony Mills
  • Over My Dead Body (2015), songwriter, arranger and lead vocals on "Bitter Suite", songwriter, arranger and keyboards on "Free Spirits", arranger and keyboards on "My Death" and "We Should Be on Right Now"[61][62]

Frantic Amber
  • Burning Insight (2015), guest keyboards on "Entwined" and "Soar"[63]

Oniricide
  • Revenge of Souls (2016), proofreading, vocal and pronunciation coaching[64]

Vivaldi Metal Project
  • The Four Seasons (2016), songwriter, arranger and lyrics on "The Illusion of Eternity", lyrics on "Vita", "Euphoria", "Sun of God", "Immortal Soul", "Thunderstorm", "The Age of Dreams", "Alchemy", "Stige", "The Meaning of Life", "The Finale Hour" and "Grande Madre"[65]
  • The Extended Sessions EP (2018), songwriter, arranger and lyrics on "The Four Seasons - Unplugged Trio Medley" [Studio Version] and "The Four Seasons - Unplugged Duo Medley" [Live Version]; lyrics on "Vita [Original Vocal Session], "Spring #2 - Largo [Part 2] Light and Vita" [Instrumental Version] and "Spring #2 - Largo [Part 2] Light"[65][66]
  • The Four Seasons - Live Concert Premiers 2018 (2019), songwriter, arranger and lyrics on "The Illusion Of Eternity - Spring #1 - Allegro", lyrics on "Vita - Spring #2 - Largo [Part 2] Light", Euphoria - Spring #3 - Allegro [Part 1] Metamorphosis, "Sun Of God - Summer #1 - Allegro Non Molto", "Immortal Soul - Summer #2 - Adagio", Thunderstorm - Summer #3 - Presto, "The Age Of Dreams - Autumn #1 - Allegro", "Alchemy - Autumn #2 - Adagio Molto [Part 3] Golden Number", "Stige - Autumn #3 - Allegro", " The Meaning Of Life - Winter #1 - Allegro Non Molto", "The Final Hour - Winter #2 - Largo", "Grande Madre - Winter #3 - Allegro", "Tragic Serenade", "Vita (Reprise)"[65]

References
  1. "Tony Mills Page". Battlegod Productions (Official Website). Battlegod Productions. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  2. "Tony Mills". Tony Mills (Official Website). Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  3. "Finalmente il rock protagonista nel pinerolese. Entropyfest 201. Roletto" (in Italian). Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. "BLACK SWAN - ROCK SCHOOL OF MUSIC - News & Eventi". www.blackswan-musicschool.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  5. "Buon Natale dal "Corelli"". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 15 December 1977.
  6. "Successo del "Corelli"". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 22 December 1977.
  7. Bocchino, Osvaldo (24 December 1977). "Il concerto degli allievi del "Corelli"". La Lanterna (newspaper) (in Italian).
  8. Santero, Giovanni (7 June 1979). "Da Pinerolo: orchestra - coro - pianoforte". L'Unione Monregalese (newspaper) (in Italian).
  9. Prone, Giorgia (8 June 1979). "L'attività dell'Istituto musicale "Corelli"". La Lanterna (newspaper) (in Italian).
  10. Bo, C. (8 June 1979). "Bravura e modestia dei giovani (110) del "Musicale" di Pinerolo". Provincia Granda (newspaper) (in Italian).
  11. Maiolini, Vivetta (14 June 1979). "Concerto dei giovani allievi dell'Istituto musicale "A. Corelli"". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian).
  12. "300 giovani concorrenti al festival "Città di Bardolino"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 33 (7). July 1980. pp. 66–67.
  13. "Oltre mille concorrenti al "Città di Stresa"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 34 (6). June 1981. p. 98.
  14. "Successo del Festival "Città di Bardolino"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 34 (7). July 1981. p. 34.
  15. "Grande successo a Torre del concorso 'Karl Czerny'". Il Pellice (newspaper) (in Italian). LXXI (18). 7 May 1982.
  16. "Torre Pellice: i risultati del Concorso "Czerny"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian) (6). June 1982.
  17. "Festival "Città di Bardolino" - Premio "Montani"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 35 (7). July 1982. p. 54.
  18. Baudissone, Bruno (19 May 1983). "Più di cento pianisti al concorso di Torre P.". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian).
  19. "Torre Pellice: i risultati dei concorsi". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 36 (6). June 1983.
  20. "Torre Pellice". Musica e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 1 (2). July 1983.
  21. "Festival "Città di Bardolino": ancora una netta affermazione". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 36 (7/8). July 1983. pp. 42–43.
  22. "Vivo successo del 7° Festival "Città di Bardolino"". Strumenti e Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). 38 (7/8). July 1985. p. 120.
  23. "Conclusa a Palazzo Italia la Mostra "Porte e portali"". La Pagina (newspaper) (in Italian). 3 November 1982.
  24. "Concerti di primavera del "Corelli" a Pinerolo". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 19 May 1983.
  25. "Cuneo - Conservatorio di Musica "G. Verdi"". Il Mondo della Musica (music magazine) (in Italian). XXVIII (33/34). Maria Elisa Tozzi. January 1990.
  26. Pellice, Gianfranco (21 December 1989). "Serata d'onore per il tenore Caffaro a Bricherasio". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 84 (49).
  27. Osella, Leonardo (6 May 1996). "Musica all'insegna del naturale". La Stampa (newspaper) (in Italian). 130 (123).
  28. "Kulturdagen". På väg (newspaper) (in Swedish) (2). December 1999. pp. 4–5.
  29. "La catalogazione dei beni musicali del patrimonio veldese" (PDF). La Beidana n. 70. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  30. Docker, Ralph (February 2011). "La catalogazione dei beni musicali del patrimonio valdese". Beidana (La) : Cultura e storia nelle Valli valdesi. 27 (70).
  31. "Docker's Guild – The Mystic Technocracy". Lion Music. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  32. "Interview with Douglas R Docker (DOCKER'S GUILD) | Ytsejam.com". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  33. "Lion Music Official Page". Lion Music. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  34. "Docker's Guild: "The Heisenberg Diaries – Book A" Album". PledgeMusic. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  36. "Docker's Guild – Forum". Dockersguild.com. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  37. "Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy - Season 2: The Age of Entropy". www.dockersguild.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  38. "Elisa Montin (18+) | Hit Like A Girl". Hit Like A Girl. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  39. "Die Today – New Docker's Guild Song!". Dockersguild.com. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  40. "Black Swan – Tony Mills Festival". Blackswan-musicschool.com. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  43. admin, V. M. P. (26 April 2015). "Douglas R. Docker official lyricist". VivaldiMetalProject. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  44. "Vivaldi Metal Project | Overview". Vivaldi Metal Project | All-Metal Star Symphonic-Metal Act. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  45. "Vivaldi Metal Project | News". Vivaldimetalproject.com. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  46. "Various - Genti Emergenti 2". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  47. "Various - Suonomodo". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  48. Pellice, Gianfranco (21 December 1989). "Serata d'onore per il tenore Caffaro a Bricherasio". L'Eco del Chisone (newspaper) (in Italian). 84 (49).
  49. "Beloit Italia - Applied Technology - Innovation Not Imitation". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  50. "Biloxi - Let the Games Begin CD. Heavy Harmonies Discography". heavyharmonies.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  51. "Cd Area 51 "In the Desert" - Docker's Guild". dockersguild.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  52. ones (3 December 2019). ""Musica dal vivo", il 19/12 Noello e Mazzà presentano l'"Appendice"". GROOVIN' (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  53. "Rustfield Official Website - Discography Page". Rustfield Official Website - Discography Page. Rustfield. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  54. "Massacre Records - Rustfield Page". Massacre Records - Rustfield Page (in German). Massacre Records. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  55. "Recensione Docker's Guild The Mystic Technocracy Preproduction Demo - truemetal.it". True Metal (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  56. "DOCKER'S GUILD - The Mystic Technocracy - Season 1: The Age Of Ignorance (2012)". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  57. "DOCKER'S GUILD - The Heisenberg Diaries (Book A: Sounds Of Future Past) (2016)". Progarchives.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  58. "Volcano Records & Promotion". volcanorecords (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  59. "DouglasDocker". Scuola APM - Saluzzo (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  60. "Last40Days - Lost and Found". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  61. "Battlegod Productions". Battlegod Productions Official Page. Battlegod Productions. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  62. "Tony Mills Official Website". Tony Mills Official Website. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  63. "Frantic Amber - Burning Insight". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  64. "Oniricide - Revenge of Souls". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  65. admin, V. M. P. (26 April 2015). "Douglas R. Docker official lyricist". VivaldiMetalProject. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  66. "Vivaldi Metal Project - The Extended Sessions". Discogs (in Italian). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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