Kathleen Dooley mixes powerful vocals with lively piano arrangements reminiscent of her extensive scoring and arrangement background. Her sound is rooted in her love of Motown, Chicago blues, country folk, and New Orleans Jazz.  She performs her solo show as a vocalist and pianist, but you can often find her joining fellow musicians on the harmonica, guitar, or drums.  Her love of a broad range of music and instrumental versatility is evident in her request-driven solo and trio shows.  She is at home pulling out a jazz standard as she is belting out a 90's rock anthem.

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As an independent original artist, Kathleen has written and arranged jazz, blues, country, and pop singles for herself and various local Chicago artists. Her music is featured regularly on independent internet radio stations The Music Authority and Twirl Radio, and her songs have been picked up or covered by Nashville recording artists and local performers. Kathleen has also written or scored 12 full theater productions, numerous radio jingles, and video scores. 

Kathleen also performs with The Heels alongside her best conga buddy Sherry Winchester Schultz, Barrelhouse Blend with talented guitarist and singer, Gary Krause, and most recently in the singer songwriter duo Dooley Schwartz with longtime friend and collaborator, Eric Peter Schwartz. 

 

From 1992 - 2012, she performed regularly with Jack Schultz and Sherry Winchester Schultz in the acoustic trio, Acoustic Alternatives winning multiple Best of the 'Burbs Acoustic Band from Nitelife Magazine until Jack's sudden passing in 2012. Kathleen and Sherry then joined forces with Barbara St. John and Michael Colle to form the band, Collective Feat. The four piece pop rock group played consistently in the Chicago suburbs until Michael's passing in 2016.  

When not on stage, Kathleen can be found music directing local productions, working as a vocal coach, working as a session musician, or supporting other performers as a pianist and backup vocalist.  She has been the Director of Media Technologies and Creative Services for almost 30 years at a local graduate institution, and she has been a board member or president of The Consortium of College and University Media Centers, and The Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora, IL.