Douglas R. Docker

From 1977 to 1981, Docker performed as a second violinist in the orchestra of the Istituto Musicale Corelli of Pinerolo.{{Cite news|title=Buon Natale dal "Corelli"|date=15 December 1977|newspaper=L'Eco del Chisone|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Successo del "Corelli"|date=22 December 1977|newspaper=L'Eco del Chisone|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Il concerto degli allievi del "Corelli"|last=Bocchino|first=Osvaldo|date=24 December 1977|newspaper=La Lanterna|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Da Pinerolo: orchestra - coro - pianoforte|last=Santero|first=Giovanni|date=7 June 1979|newspaper=L'Unione Monregalese|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=L'attività dell'Istituto musicale "Corelli"|last=Prone|first=Giorgia|date=8 June 1979|newspaper=La Lanterna|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Bravura e modestia dei giovani (110) del "Musicale" di Pinerolo|last=Bo|first=C.|date=8 June 1979|newspaper=Provincia Granda|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Concerto dei giovani allievi dell'Istituto musicale "A. Corelli"|last=Maiolini|first=Vivetta|date=14 June 1979|newspaper=L'Eco del Chisone|language=it|type=newspaper}} 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.{{Cite news|title=300 giovani concorrenti al festival "Città di Bardolino"|date=July 1980|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=7|volume=33|pages=66–67|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Oltre mille concorrenti al "Città di Stresa"|date=June 1981|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=6|volume=34|page=98|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Successo del Festival "Città di Bardolino"|date=July 1981|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=7|volume=34|page=34|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Grande successo a Torre del concorso 'Karl Czerny'|date=7 May 1982|newspaper=Il Pellice|issue=18|volume=LXXI|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Torre Pellice: i risultati del Concorso "Czerny"|date=June 1982|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=6|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Festival "Città di Bardolino" - Premio "Montani"|date=July 1982|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=7|volume=35|page=54|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Più di cento pianisti al concorso di Torre P.|last=Baudissone|first=Bruno|date=19 May 1983|newspaper=L'Eco del Chisone|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Torre Pellice: i risultati dei concorsi|date=June 1983|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=6|volume=36|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Torre Pellice|date=July 1983|work=Musica e Musica|issue=2|volume=1|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Festival "Città di Bardolino": ancora una netta affermazione|date=July 1983|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=7/8|volume=36|pages=42–43|language=it|type=music magazine}}{{Cite news|title=Vivo successo del 7° Festival "Città di Bardolino"|date=July 1985|work=Strumenti e Musica|issue=7/8|volume=38|page=120|language=it|type=music magazine}} He also performed in recitals as a classical pianist throughout the 1980s.{{Cite news|title=Conclusa a Palazzo Italia la Mostra "Porte e portali"|date=3 November 1982|newspaper=La Pagina|language=it|type=newspaper}}{{Cite news|title=Concerti di primavera del "Corelli" a Pinerolo|date=19 May 1983|newspaper=L'Eco del Chisone|language=it|type=newspaper}}

In September 1989, he obtained a BA in Classical Piano at the Conservatory of Cuneo.{{Cite news|title=Cuneo - Conservatorio di Musica "G. Verdi"|date=January 1990|work=Il Mondo della Musica|publisher=Maria Elisa Tozzi|issue=33/34|volume=XXVIII|language=it|type=music magazine}} He was then hired to play piano and organ on the album Ave Maria by Italian tenor Antonio Caffaro.{{Cite news|title=Serata d'onore per il tenore Caffaro a Bricherasio|last=Pellice|first=Gianfranco|date=21 December 1989|newspaper=L'Eco del Chisone|issue=49|volume=84|language=it|type=newspaper}}

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).{{Cite news|title=Musica all'insegna del naturale|last=Osella|first=Leonardo|date=6 May 1996|newspaper=La Stampa|issue=123|volume=130|language=it|type=newspaper}}

In November 1999, he performed Allegro de Concierto by Enrique Granados at the SFI-Västertorp in Stockholm for its yearly Kulturdagen (Culture Day).{{Cite news|title=Kulturdagen|date=December 1999|newspaper=På väg|issue=2|pages=4–5|language=sv|type=newspaper}}

Docker returned to Italy in January 2008. In 2011 he published an article cataloging the Waldensian musical heritage.{{cite web|url=http://www.fondazionevaldese.org/documenti/a56dc5e60643d54479f6f266dbc6e8c2.pdf|title=La catalogazione dei beni musicali del patrimonio veldese|publisher=La Beidana n. 70|accessdate=8 July 2013|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924014318/http://www.fondazionevaldese.org/documenti/a56dc5e60643d54479f6f266dbc6e8c2.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite journal|last=Docker|first=Ralph|date=February 2011|title=La catalogazione dei beni musicali del patrimonio valdese|journal=Beidana (La): Cultura e Storia Nelle Valli Valdesi|volume=27|issue=70}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/mystictechnocracy.htm|title=Docker's Guild – The Mystic Technocracy|publisher=Lion Music|accessdate=8 July 2013}} Performers on the album included Tony Franklin, Guthrie Govan, Jeff Watson, Greg Bissonette, Goran Edman, John Payne, Tony Mills, and Amanda Somerville. Docker did not know any of the performers personally, and did not interact in person with any of them. Rather, he solicited their services on the internet.{{Cite web |last=jason |title=10 Q's with DOUGLAS DOCKER |url=https://getreadytorock.me.uk/blog/2012/09/10-qs-with-douglas-docker/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Get Ready to ROCK! |language=en-US}} 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{{when|date=June 2020}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://ytsejam.com/2012/08/interview-with-douglas-r-docker-dockers-guild/|title=Interview with Douglas R Docker (DOCKER'S GUILD) {{!}} Ytsejam.com|access-date=2016-08-06|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821173117/http://ytsejam.com/2012/08/interview-with-douglas-r-docker-dockers-guild/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://lionmusic.com/cd/Dockers_2.html|title=Lion Music Official Page|website=Lion Music|access-date=2016-08-02}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/heisenberga|title=Docker's Guild: "The Heisenberg Diaries – Book A" Album|website=PledgeMusic|access-date=2016-08-02}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dockersguild.com/home/blog/the-mystic-technocracy-season-2-the-age-of-entropy |title="The Mystic Technocracy - Season 2: The Age of Entropy" |website=www.dockersguild.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220030912/http://www.dockersguild.com/home/blog/the-mystic-technocracy-season-2-the-age-of-entropy |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://dockersguild.com/forum/boards/4631/topics/144686?p=1 |title=Docker's Guild – Forum |website=Dockersguild.com |accessdate=2020-03-07 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=https://www.dockersguild.com/the-mystic-technocracy-season-2-the-age-of-entropy|title=Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy - Season 2: The Age of Entropy|website=www.dockersguild.com|access-date=2018-04-24}}{{Cite news|url=https://hitlikeagirlcontest.com/entry/elisa-montin/|title=Elisa Montin (18+) {{!}} Hit Like A Girl|work=Hit Like A Girl|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en-US}} In 2020, Docker released a track from Season 2 "Die Today" as a pre-production demo on the project's blog.{{cite web|url=https://dockersguild.com/home/blog/die-today-new-docker-s-guild-song |title=Die Today – New Docker's Guild Song! |website=Dockersguild.com |date=2020-01-30 |accessdate=2020-03-07}} In 2021, Docker launched an unsuccessful campaign to crowdfund the album.https://dockersguild.com/crowdfund{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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.{{cite web|url=http://blackswan-musicschool.com/tony_mills_festival |title=Black Swan – Tony Mills Festival |website=Blackswan-musicschool.com |date=2019-09-21 |accessdate=2020-03-07}}

In December 2019, Docker announced that The Docker's Guild would be performing a rare live performance at Entropy Fest IV in Pinerolo, Italy. However, Docker later cancelled the entire festival, for several reasons including inter alia "the chronic absence of public at the evenings despite the constant online and printed promotion".{{Cite web|title=COMUNICATO UFFICIALE CHIUSURA TOTALE E DEFINITIVA DELL'ENTROPY FEST|url=http://www.blackswan-musicschool.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/EF_ComunicatoChiusura.9821929.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024172848/http://blackswan-musicschool.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/EF_ComunicatoChiusura.9821929.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2020 }}

In 2023, Docker announced the formation of Event Horizon, a melodic rock project of which Docker says, "Today I will begin recording the preproduction demos for a new project called Event Horizon - Melodic Rock Band. The band was actually active a few years back as a melodic rock tribute band (Asia, Journey, '80s Yes, Kansas, Styx, etc). I am reviving the project but with original music. And the first album will be something very special to me: there is a batch of songs that I wrote back in 1983/84 when I was only 16 years old. They are the first rock songs that I ever wrote. The direction was still vague, with country music, rock, metal and new wave among the styles of music. A little window into the origins of my songwriting." https://www.facebook.com/eventhorizonaor/

In the 2014, Docker formed Cheap Prick, a Cheap Trick tribute act that has performed live shows in Italy.[http://www.settimanalemonviso.it/settimanalemonviso/cheap-prick-live-a-fenile/ ]{{dead link|date=March 2020}}

In 2013, Docker was hired as an arranger and as the official lyricist for the Vivaldi Metal Project.{{cite web |url=http://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/tag/dockers-guild/ |title=Docker's guild | Vivaldi Metal Project |website=www.vivaldimetalproject.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703221252/http://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/tag/dockers-guild/ |archive-date=3 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=admin|first=V. M. P.|date=2015-04-26|title=Douglas R. Docker official lyricist|url=https://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/post/douglas-r-docker-official-lyricist|access-date=2020-06-25|website=VivaldiMetalProject|language=en}}

In 2019 it was announced that Docker had left his position.{{cite web|url=https://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/the-project|title=Vivaldi Metal Project {{!}} Overview|website=Vivaldi Metal Project {{!}} All-Metal Star Symphonic-Metal Act|language=en|access-date=2019-04-16|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828181041/https://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/the-project|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/news/douglas-r-docker-leaves-his-position-as-lyricist|title=Vivaldi Metal Project {{!}} News|website=Vivaldimetalproject.com|date=25 February 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-04-16}}

• GentiEmergenti 2 – compilation cassette (1986), keyboards on "Autolesionismo"{{Cite web|title=Various - Genti Emergenti 2|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Various-Genti-Emergenti-2/release/13597571|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Discogs|language=it}}

• Suonomodo – compilation LP (1988), keyboards on "Love You Sometime"{{Cite web|title=Various - Suonomodo|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Various-Suonomodo/release/11875632|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Discogs|language=it}}

• Ave Maria (1989), classical piano and pipe organ

• Leykam Murztaler Soundtrack (1990), keyboards and programming, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer{{Cite web|title=Beloit Italia - Applied Technology - Innovation Not Imitation|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Beloit-Italia-Applied-Technology-Innovation-Not-Imitation/release/13598897|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Discogs|language=it}}
• PWA IP Soundtrack (1991), keyboards and programming, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer

• 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{{Cite web|title=Biloxi - Let the Games Begin CD. Heavy Harmonies Discography|url=https://heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/glamcd.cgi?BandNum=860&CDName=Let+the+Games+Begin|access-date=2020-06-21|website=heavyharmonies.com}}

• In the Desert (1996), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer{{Cite web|title=Cd Area 51 "In the Desert" - Docker's Guild|url=https://dockersguild.com/home|access-date=2020-06-21|website=dockersguild.com}}
• La Musica dal Vivo book and CD (2019), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer on "Night Time"{{Cite web|last=ones|date=2019-12-03|title="Musica dal vivo", il 19/12 Noello e Mazzà presentano l'"Appendice"|url=https://groovin2019.home.blog/2019/12/03/musica-dal-vivo-il-19-12-noello-e-mazza-presentano-lappendice/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=GROOVIN'|language=it-IT}}

• Demo 2009 (2009), guest keyboard solos on "Compromising", "Waxhopes" and "High Waters"{{cite web|url=http://www.rustfield.net/disco.html|title=Rustfield Official Website - Discography Page|date=6 December 2013|website=Rustfield Official Website - Discography Page|publisher=Rustfield|access-date=22 March 2016}}
• Kingdom of Rust (2013), guest keyboard solos on "Compromising", "Waxhopes" and "High Waters", piano on "Love Moan"{{cite web|url=http://massacre-records.de/bands/bands_releases.asp?bands=RUSTFIELD&orderno=200843|title=Massacre Records - Rustfield Page|date=6 December 2013|website=Massacre Records - Rustfield Page|publisher=Massacre Records|language=de|access-date=22 March 2016}}

• The Mystic Technocracy Demo (2009), keyboards and programming, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer{{Cite web|title=Recensione Docker's Guild The Mystic Technocracy Preproduction Demo - truemetal.it|url=https://www.truemetal.it/recensioni/the-mystic-technocracy-preproduction-demo|access-date=2020-06-21|website=True Metal|language=it-IT}}
• The Mystic Technocracy – Season 1: The Age of Ignorance (2012), keyboards, lead and backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer{{Cite web|title=DOCKER'S GUILD - The Mystic Technocracy - Season 1: The Age Of Ignorance (2012)|url=https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=39227|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Progarchives.com|language=en}}
• The Heisenberg Diaries - Book A: Sounds of Future Past (2016), keyboards, lead and backing vocals, arranger, engineer and producer{{Cite web|title=DOCKER'S GUILD - The Heisenberg Diaries (Book A: Sounds Of Future Past) (2016)|url=https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=51248|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Progarchives.com|language=en}}
• This Is Rock Vol. 1 - compilation (2019), keyboards, backing vocals, composer, arranger, engineer and producer on "The Mystic Technocracy" and "Black Swans"{{Cite web|title=Volcano Records & Promotion|url=https://www.volcanopromotion.com/thisisrock|access-date=2020-06-21|website=volcanorecords|language=it}}

• Shining Line (2010), guest keyboards on "Strong Enough"{{Cite web|title=DouglasDocker|url=https://www.scuolaapm.it/docenti/douglas-docker/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Scuola APM - Saluzzo|language=it-IT}}

• Lost and Found (2013), proofreading, vocal and pronunciation coaching{{Cite web|title=Last40Days - Lost and Found|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Last40Days-Lost-and-Found/release/13598416|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Discogs|language=it}}

• 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"{{cite web|url=http://www.battlegod-productions.com/v1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137:tonymills&catid=34:new-signed-band&Itemid=53|title=Battlegod Productions|website=Battlegod Productions Official Page|publisher=Battlegod Productions|access-date=23 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tonymills-official.com/|title=Tony Mills Official Website|website=Tony Mills Official Website|access-date=23 March 2016|archive-date=3 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903212441/http://www.tonymills-official.com/|url-status=dead}}

• Burning Insight (2015), guest keyboards on "Entwined" and "Soar"{{Cite web|title=Frantic Amber - Burning Insight|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Frantic-Amber-Burning-Insight/release/6280505|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Discogs|language=it}}

• Revenge of Souls (2016), proofreading, vocal and pronunciation coaching{{Cite web|title=Oniricide - Revenge of Souls|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Oniricide-Revenge-of-Souls/release/13597507|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Discogs|language=it}}

• 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"{{Cite web|last=admin|first=V. M. P.|date=2015-04-26|title=Douglas R. Docker official lyricist|url=https://www.vivaldimetalproject.com/post/douglas-r-docker-official-lyricist|access-date=2020-06-21|website=VivaldiMetalProject|language=en}}
• 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"{{Cite web|title=Vivaldi Metal Project - The Extended Sessions|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Vivaldi-Metal-Project-The-Extended-Sessions/release/11435517|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Discogs|language=it}}
• 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)"

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{YouTube|u=Douglas555|Douglas R. Docker}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Docker, Douglas}}

Category:American keyboardists

Category:Living people

Category:Heavy metal keyboardists

Category:American expatriates in Italy

Category:1967 births

Category:Musicians Institute alumni

Category:Massacre Records artists

Category:21st-century American keyboardists