Guitarist and singer Norm Dodge has been entertaining audiences of all ages for over 35 years. With a consistent performance schedule of over 300 gigs a year, Norm’s full-time work as a musician allows him to accumulate a vast and diverse song catalogue consisting of hundreds of songs. Specializing in classic rock, he remains well versed in other areas of music, always staying up to date with the latest musical trends, and yet he has extensive experience in many forms of today’s most popular music.
Continuing a lifelong endeavor, Norm composes and performs his own music. In 2008, he released “Backpacking in Manhattan”, a CD which neatly combines all of his musical influences into one tight package. Vinnie Ferrone calls it “John Lennon’s Walls & Bridges merged with the rocking funk of Lenny Kravitz to produce a thoughtful and authentic musical offspring- Norm Dodge.”
Norm belongs to the popular acoustic duo Bob & Norm, and continues to enjoy a successful entertainment career. Featured mostly in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Bob & Norm have also performed in Boston, Chicago, Pennsylvania and Vermont, providing music for all types of occasions. Recently, they were requested to support Mike Peters of The Alarm on his solo acoustic tour.
Norm’s versatility and adaptability have allowed him to share the stage with many established recording artists over the years. Fellow musicians and bands consistently seek him out for his ability to step out to the front or to be a sympathetic rhythm section player, and he can accommodate however needed.
When performing in a solo capacity, Norm draws from a repertoire that reflects on the artists that have and continue to influence him as a guitarist and as a singer. A typical set might include a mixture of songs from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison, just to name a few. Any listener would quickly pick up on a melody of Don Henley or Crosby Stills & Nash influenced vocals with the guitar sensibility of an Eric Clapton or a Jerry Garcia.
An important, yet carefully subtle, dimension to Norm’s performance ability lies in his consideration to the volume and fidelity of his performance. Thanks to years of experience, he has come to know and understand how to avoid blowing out the listener with sheer volume while still achieving a perfect mix of sound, both vocally and instrumentally, for all to comfortably enjoy.
Apart from performing and composing, Norm takes enormous pride in his ability to teach music He studied at the University of Colorado in Denver and Berklee College of Music in Boston, and graduated from Mercy College with a BS in Music. He also has a Performing Artists Diploma from the Westchester Conservatory. These qualifications, combined with his love and passion for music, make him a truly qualified instructor for anyone looking to enjoy music as a hobby or make it a career.